Physical-Virtual Agents for Healthcare Simulation

Salam Daher, Jason Hochreiter, Nahal Norouzi, Laura Gonzalez, Gerd Bruder, Greg Welch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conventional Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVAs) focus primarily on the visual and auditory channels for both the agent and the interacting human: The agent displays a visual appearance and speech as output, while processing the human's verbal and non-verbal behavior as input. However, some interactions, particularly those between a patient and healthcare provider, inherently include tactile components.We introduce an Intelligent Physical-Virtual Agent (IPVA) head that occupies an appropriate physical volume; can be touched; and via human-in-The-loop control can change appearance, listen, speak, and react physiologically in response to human behavior. Compared to a traditional IVA, it provides a physical affordance, allowing for more realistic and compelling human-Agent interactions. In a user study focusing on neurological assessment of a simulated patient showing stroke symptoms, we compared the IPVA head with a high-fidelity touch-Aware mannequin that has a static appearance. Various measures of the human subjects indicated greater attention, affinity for, and presence with the IPVA patient, all factors that can improve healthcare training.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 18th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2018
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages99-106
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781450360135
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 5 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event18th ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2018 - Sydney, Australia
Duration: Nov 5 2018Nov 8 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 18th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2018
Volume2018-January

Conference

Conference18th ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2018
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CitySydney
Period11/5/1811/8/18

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Human-Computer Interaction

Keywords

  • Neurological assessment
  • Patient simulator
  • Physical-virtual agents

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