A project which aims to tackle loneliness and social isolation through AI-connected dance has been hailed as ‘exceptional’ by the European Commission – as the team behind it look to bring their lab success to the marketplace.
The programme, called Carousel, has developed a revolutionary dance game which allows players in different locations to interact in real time through digital avatars and artificial intelligence. It features new technology, called DanceGraph, which is being patented by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).
Backed by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program with nearly £1m in funding, Carousel initially began during the Covid pandemic as part of an effort to connect people in the digital age.
It focuses on the sensory aspects of dancing to develop human interaction through realistic, low-latency digital dance avatars.
Following the conclusion of the project, a European Commission report found it has “delivered exceptional results with significant immediate or potential impact”. The EU’s Innovation Radar also noted that the technology is “market ready”.
Efforts are now underway to make the synchronised dancing technology available to gamers through an ENU spin-out company. As well as Edinburgh Napier University, Carousel involves colleagues from the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Grassroots Arts and Research, Aalto University, and VIVITnet.
Last year they took Carousel to GamesCom, the world’s biggest video games event, held in Germany – where it was well received by gamers and industry figures alike.
Carousel’s Research Lead Professor Kenny Mitchell, from ENU’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment, has previously developed games, graphics, robotics, and computer vision for the likes of Electronic Arts, Disney, and Roblox.
He said: “Carousel began with a mission of helping people in different locations to connect – and we are thrilled to see how far it has come.
“The latest recognition the project has received demonstrates the hard work the team has put into it, as well as its potential to develop into a real-world product.
“Our attention will now turn to bringing the DanceGraph technology to market and helping everyone to dance in-sync together across the world.”
Fiona Mason, Head of Business Engagement and IP Commercialisation at ENU, said “This is a fantastic endorsement of the ingenuity of our research team, and the strength of innovation at our University.
“We look forward to supporting the project on its journey and to engaging with partners, stakeholders and investors who share our ambition to see this technology reach its full potential.
“This international recognition is just the beginning, and we are excited to explore the opportunities ahead.”
If you want to find out more, or get involved with the Carousel project, you can get in touch via innovation@napier.ac.uk.