Layer 4 – Expressive Qualities
The highest layer focuses on how an observer perceives movement, connecting computational features with human-centered interpretation.
It addresses nonverbal communication, emotions, and social signals conveyed through movement, supporting cross-modal experiences (e.g., “listening to a choreography”)
and enabling applications in art, therapy, rehabilitation, and HCI
Key Concepts
- Observer perspective: perception, not physical effort, defines qualities.
- Memory and context: recent history influences interpretation (e.g., expectancy, contrast, saliency).
- Machine learning: used to map mid-level trajectories to expressive qualities.
Examples of Expressive Qualities
| Quality | Description | Implemented |
|---|---|---|
| Predictability / Expectancy | Extent to which movement can be anticipated by an observer. | |
| Hesitation | When intention behind movement is unclear to an observer. | |
| Attraction / Repulsion | Degree to which an observer feels drawn to or repelled by the movement. | |
| Groove | Extent to which movement elicits movement in the observer. | |
| Saliency | How a movement stands out compared to others in context. | |
| Emotion | Expressive emotional content conveyed via body movement (categorical or dimensional). | |
| Nonverbal Social Signals | Group-level communication: entrainment, leadership, synchrony. |
References
TODO