Abstract:
This paper describes a message-based object-oriented tool for
exploring mathematically-based interactions which produce complex
motions for computer animation. The tool has been implemented
as an object in the object-oriented computer animation system
The Clockworks. It supports the definition of complex interactions
between geometric objects through the specification of messages to
the interacting objects. Our approach is general, flexible and
powerful. The tool itself is not hardcoded to a particular application.
It simply sends the messages specified by the user. Messages are
specified as strings which may be stored, modified and interpreted.
Since the tool is part of The Clockworks it may utilize many of the
powerful features of the system, including data structuring,
mathematical, geometric modeling, and rendering objects. The tool
has been used to explore a general spring and mass model, and the
response of objects in a vector field.