In conjunction with Lunar New Year, Google has decided to release a new AI experiment today called Shadow Art, so that your friends and family can try out shadow puppetry using AI technology.
Shadow puppetry, which is also known as shadow play, was a traditional way of storytelling and entertainment that was said to originate in China and India. It is said that shadow puppetry begun 1,000 years ago and it was usually used to tell legends of the past combined with music, arts and craftsmanship.
While traditionally shadow puppetry requires cut out figures, a source of light and also a translucent screen, the current technology can do the same through the use of AI technology. To allow the current generation to learn and appreciate traditional culture, Google is introducing this AI experiment so you can experience shadow puppetry online.
Shadow Art can be accessed via web browsers and it uses a library known as tensorflow.js that allows a machine learning model to be trained and run directly in the browser so that users can experience AI shadow puppetry in a more interactive way. With 12 zodiac animals in front of your laptop or phone, you’re required to match the diagram on the screen through hand poses which will then turn into a shadow puppet animal when it’s done correctly.
In efforts to make the game slightly challenging, Google also made the game with a time limit in which each animal will only have 20 seconds for you to match the picture. Your goal is to match all 12 zodiac animals as fast as you can, and upon completion you’ll get a surprise that Google has prepared for you in the game.
You can also make it competitive between you and your friends and family by trying to beat each other’s scores! To play Shadow Art, just click on this link and you can start enjoying shadow puppetry online.