Creative arcs in improvised human-computer embodied performances

Mikhail Jacob, Brian Magerko

Abstract: This paper proposes a novel framework for real-time decisionmaking in open-ended improvised human-computer performances and a work in progress system for studying it within the Props game domain. The proposed work uses creative arcs (i.e. continuous trajectories through a dimensional space consisting of novelty, surprise and value) as a way to guide the exploration of generated candidate actions for the improvising agent to perform. This paper also describes the proposed agent's relationship to curious agents and several considerations for computationally evaluating creativity in this domain. It details the interactive installation housing the system and the architecture design (completed and planned) before concluding with a discussion of future work.