Cary, N.C.-based [TC] ² — a provider of technology development and supply chain improvement solutions for the apparel, sewn products and related soft goods industries — has released a Human Avatar Engine (HAE) for computerized applications that use human models.

Because [TC] ² created the HAE using a statistical sampling of more than 10,800 previously scanned human subjects, it is not necessary to scan every individual user. The engine can be accessed from any location. The supply of 3-D scan data comes from [TC] ²’s SizeUSA human sizing project of the US population, which includes data from people of varying heights, weights and ethnicities from ages 18 to 65 and older. The user simply enters a small number of data points, and the engine generates an avatar that closely replicates that person.

According to [TC] ², the HAE’s output is more realistic and human-like than parametric computer-generated human models. It also can create avatars in any mesh density and incorporate joint rigging locations for animation, enabling use in any online virtual world or software application that employs human models.

September 23, 2008