Applications of Avatar Mediated Interaction to Teaching, Training, Job Skills and Wellness

Abstract

Abstract. The focus of this chapter is on the application of a framework for remotely delivering role-playing experiences that afford users the opportunity to practice real-world skills in a safe virtual setting. The framework, AMITIES, provides a single individual the capabilities to remotely orchestrate the performances of multiple virtual characters. We illustrate this by introducing avatarenabled scenarios that range from teacher preparation to effectively dealing with complex interpersonal situations such as resistance to peer pressure and participation in job interviews (either as the interviewer or the interviewee).

MeEmo - Using an Avatar to Improve Social Skills in Children with ASD

“…Finally, comparisons between subject performance on trial 20 (based on MeEmo facial cues) and trial 10 (based on non-facial health meters) show that both ASD and control groups were able to respond to MeEmo's needs in both conditions. Both groups improved in performance over trials 1-10 (with visual health meters), as well as over trials [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] (with only facial cues). By the end of trial 20 (with facial cues), performance was similar to that of trial 10 (with visual health meters).…”

“…TeachLivE is a virtual environment initially developed to assist in the training of teachers [12] and has been studied as a tool for measuring social responses for children with autism [4]. It is primarily a virtual training platform where teachers can practice and master the interpersonal skills they need to be Workshop on Child Computer Interaction 6-7 Sep 2016, San Francisco, USA effective in the classroom.…”

“…By using avatars that are placed in familiar environments but controlled by an interactor on the back end, the participant can be given a controlled opportunity to interact with the avatars in a way that is non-threatening and safe and that doesn't place real students at risk. This approach has gained significant momentum and has proven to be extremely successful [9], [10], [12], [13], [14].…”

Working With Avatars and High Schoolers to Teach Qualitative Methods to Undergraduates

“…Mixed reality simulations (MRS) provide an opportunity for learners to practice what they are learning before applying concepts in the real world. It creates a risk-free environment for learners to safely take risks without harming real participants (Hughes, Nagendran, Dieker, Hynes, & Welch, 2015). Like flight simulators used to train airline pilots prior to flying an actual airplane, MRS provides active practice opportunities to interact with avatars (i.e., computer-animated characters controlled by humans) in order to practice newly learned skills.…”

“…During the simulation, participants focus on a discrete skill and objective to accomplish. MRS follows what is known as the human-in-the-loop paradigm, where a human known as an Interactor actively controls the voices and movement of avatars, allowing for more authentic, spontaneous responses that reflect the nature of unpredictable human interactions (Hughes et al, 2015). The Interactor is a highly trained specialist that can see and hear the participants through a web camera and microphone, while the participants only see and hear the avatars displayed on the large monitor.…”