Hermit yoga, an invaluable Thai tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation for more than two centuries, will no longer be lost with time - thanks to National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec), which is working with Wat Phra Chetuphon to turn capture the local heritage into a digital format.

The project has also received support from the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) and the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine to digitise the Hermit Yoga's postures into a 3-dimensional animation.

At present, the project is in the digitisation process. The conversion of 15 basic postures into 3D animations is expected to be completed by next year.

Hermit's Yoga Posture Digital project is part of a tribute to the Wat Phra Chetuphon, which was named a Memory of the World heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Nectec's Knowledge Elicitation and Archiving Laboratory director and project leader Chularat Tanprasert said that after finishing digitising process, the team will put up the 15 basic Hermit Yoga postures of hermit in 3D animation on the Internet and allow people to access for free.

"We aim to use technology to keep the memory of Thai traditions and wisdom alive for longer and to make them easily accessible and available for everyone," Chularat said.

Under the plan, Nectec will work with Sipa to convert the yoga postures into 3D animations by using motion capture and video technology, whereas Wat Phra Chetuphon and the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine will ensure that the postures are correct.

Project developer Suthon Wongsuchat said the team will combine video and motion technologies to capture Hermit Yoga's postures as realistically as possible.

Currently, the team has completed the digitization of the initial three yoga postures and plans to demonstrate the project to the public at the Nectec Annual Conference and Exhibition 2008 held from September 24 to September 25 at Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok Hotel.

Suthon said, along with 3D-animated postures, the project will include directions to guide those people who want to practice Hermit Yoga on their own.

Of the total 127 yoga postures, the project will start with digitising just 15 basic postures. Suthon said the team hopes to digitise all 127 postures in the future.