We demonstrate a novel method for producing a synthetic talking head. The method is based on earlier work in which the behaviour of a synthetic individual is generated by reference to a probabilistic model of interactive behaviour within the visual domain such models are learnt automatically from typical interactions. We extend this work into a combined visual and auditory domain and employ a s...

The present study aimed to identify strategies used to realize the speech act of offerin Persian. To do so, 195 male and female native Persian speakers were selected fromdiverse age ranges, educational backgrounds, and social classes, and were assigned a36-item Discourse Completion Task (DCT) to elicit the speech act of offer. Thirtyfield workers also recorded naturally occurring interactions c...

The handshake is a commonplace greeting in many cultures, but it has the potential to transmit infectious organisms directly between individuals. We developed an experimental model to assay transfer of bacteria during greeting exchange, and show that transfer is dramatically reduced when engaging in alternative so-called dap greetings known as the high five and fist bump compared with a traditi...