Expertise

Animgen technology has been developed from research expertise at the School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia

Animgen software is available to license through SYS Consulting Ltd, a specialist consultancy company established in 2000 to provide tailored access to information and communication technology and expertise from the School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia

The Animgen team:

Professor John Glauert

Professor of Computing Science, Executive Director SYS Consulting
School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia

Professor John Glauert leads the Virtual Humans group in the School of Computing Sciences at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

In collaboration with colleagues in the EU Framework V projects ViSiCAST and eSIGN, the group has created Animgen, ground-breaking technology for animation of deaf sign language using virtual humans. This technology has been used on eGovernment websites in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Currently, this research is being continued within Dicta-Sign, a large EU Framework 7 project that builds on research in animating sign language and employs 3 researchers at UEA.

Animgen has being applied in a number of commercial contracts including creation of Performing Hands, an online educational materials for deaf children in the UK to promote literacy in English and British Sign Language. Results of a recently completed project, LinguaSign, which enhances materials for primary modern foreign language learning with signing-inspired gestures, are available for purchase.

Dr Ralph Elliott

Senior Research Associate
School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia

Ralph Elliott obtained a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy at Cambridge in 1973. Thereafter he spent a number of years working as a software developer, including three years (1978-81) at Southampton University on an ICL-funded project developing a Pascal compiler. During the 80s he worked in several different capacities in the Computing Sector of what is now the School of Computing Sciences here at UEA, where he received a PhD in 1990.

Ralph's current research interests include formal methods, particularly in connection with digital systems design, and the implementation of geometric algorithms.

Dr Richard Kennaway

Senior Research Associate
School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia

Richard Kennaway studied at Edinburgh and Oxford, obtaining a D.Phil in Mathematics in 1980. Since then he has worked in theoretical computer science, virtual reality, control theory, and robotics, and his current research interests are procedural humanoid animation and computational biology.

Mr Vincent Jennings

Senior Research Associate
School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia