This is kind of an odd question, but...

[ZombieNixon]

how often does the average person blink? (guesstimates are OK, but if I can get a real number, that would be good too).

[AirmensMom]

1. I dunno ...

but I've noticed that some actors/actresses NEVER blink while the camera is on them. It's downright creepy!

[ZombieNixon]

2. Yeah, and I'm trying to avoid creepy in this.

(This is for the animation engine I'm writing, and I need to show off the little things, such as naturalistic blinking)

[LynzM]

5. You going to write a randomization into it?

Just curious!

[ZombieNixon]

9. Yeah.

I've got it so you can run up to three separate animations on the same character object simultaneously, running on separate "layers" (so you could have a walk cycle, which affects most of the body, on the base layer, a sword swinging around, which affects a localized portion of the body, on the middle layer, and blinking or eye movement, which affects a small portion of the body, on the top layer). I'm writing a timer that'll trigger things like blinking, then reset upon the animation's completion and the trigger it again when the timer runs out again. There will be randomization and possibly modification of the timer settings for less-that-relaxing situations, like fight-or-flight responses.

[terrya]

7. Right wing Republican Steve Forbes never blinks on camera.

I can barely stand to look at him. Or to listen to him, actually.

[sarge43]

8. Hopkins said he deliberately didn't blink in Silence of the Lambs

Subliminal effect. Standard acting technique.

[AirmensMom]

11. Well, he was TRYING to be creepy.

I find myself looking at some of these actors and thinking, "Blink, dammit!" There's one on a soap who's trying so hard not to blink that she ends up letting a pile of little half-blinks loose when she can't hold it any longer.

[sarge43]

12. True

I wonder what's up with the rest of them. Stage fright? Director from hell? Bad contacts?

[AirmensMom]

13. You left one out.

Really bad actors. :P

[sarge43]

14. As a soap actor was cited,

I thought that went without saying. :evilgrin:

[AirmensMom]

15. Of course.

Silly me. What was I thinking? :silly:

[sarge43]

3. In a relaxed state, o/a 20 times per minute

http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/eyeblink.htm

[ZombieNixon]

6. Sweet, thanks!

:thumbsup:

[sarge43]

10. You're welcome; happy to help

I love Google.

[ZombieNixon]

16. Mission accomplished - it works!

Thanks again! :hi:

[sarge43]

17. Herkin'! n/t

[Kajsa]

4. I'm just guesstimating ( my made up word)

but I'd say 11,000-12,000 times a day.

:hi: