Head-shaped Tangible Interface for Affective Expression

A head shaped resin with several holes and equipped with a camera is used for facial expression synthesis through intuitive multiple finger contacts and gestures. The calibration of the interface is presented together with an evaluation of its accuracy under different light and equipment conditions. Three experiments on using the interface of facial expression synthesis are described: a synthesis of emoticons and two modes of expressive animation by associating faces zones with expressions of a 3D face. Evaluations confirm the usability of the interface and show that subjects have appreciated its nuanced and sensitive interaction modes.