STEP Resource Package

Feb 27, 2004, version 1.1

Home --- STEP --- Tool --- Paper --- Source --- XSTEP --- DLP --- Link

This edition of STEP package includes the latest STEP resources -- papers, engine, script libraries, tools, and avatars.

STEP (Scripting Technology for Embodied Persona) is a scripting language for embodied agents, in particular for their communicative acts, like gestures, postures, speech, and facial expressions. STEP has been implemented in the distributed logic programming language DLP, a tool for the implementation of 3D web agents .

XSTEP is an XML-based markup/scripting language for embodied agents. It is the XML version of STEP. The XSTEP Editor would help you to edit XSTEP and STEP scripts and translate XSTEP scripts into STEP scripts on IBM's XML editor Xeena.

STEP Source includes the STEP engine, STEP javascript interface, STEP script libraries, and several templates. Note that currently the free download version of STEP does not support facial expressions. Contact Zhisheng Huang for the STEP engine which supports facial animation.

DLP includes the lastest release of DLP (dlp1r18N). STEP Tool Package consists of several STEP authoring tools, including a STEP testbed and a rotation measure tool. You can use these tools to load any h-anim humanoid avatar and test your own scripting actions on the avatars online without the installation of any STEP software or DLP tool.

Note that you have to use the Blaxxun VRML browser for STEP animation. Use only Microsoft Internet Explorer if you use Windows NT/2000/XP. Dis-enable SUN's Java 2 version 1.4.0 or higher for IE. It can be done by unchecking the selection on the Internet options under IE. Use the Microsoft Speech ActiveX for the STEP speech engine.

Contact Zhisheng Huang for comments or suggestions.