Virtual Humans within Journalism: an overview of examples, possibilities and questions.
Objectives: Simulation is an important learning activity in nursing education. There is little knowledge about dialogue and communication between students and facilitators in a virtual simulation setting. The current study, conducted in Norway, explores the dialogic teaching approaches applied by facilitators in a virtual classroom and adapt an analytic tool from a physical classroom in lower education to a virtual classroom in higher education. Methods: Sixteen virtual simulation sessions of groups with nursing students were video-taped. The videos were coded with a coding scheme developed for physical classrooms and adapted to the virtual setting. The dialogic approaches from the facilitator were analysed using descriptive analysis. Results: The most frequently used approaches from the facilitator were categorized as listening (“Modelling prompts and body language to encourage continuation”) and asking (“Big questions”). The most frequent pattern seen in the use of dialogic approaches fall under the category listening. Conclusions: The coding scheme is suitable to analyse facilitators’ dialogic approaches in a virtual setting in nursing education. Further research should examine how the facilitator can strategically deploy dialogic approaches in other types of simulations with students. Innovation: The coding scheme was developed from lower to higher education, and from a physical to a virtual setting.
Alcoholgebruiksstoornis (AUD) is een groot probleem. Alleen al in de USA zijn er 15 miljoen mensen met een AUD en meer dan 950.000 Nederlanders drinkt overmatig. Wereldwijd is 3-8% van het aantal sterfgevallen en 5% van alle ziektes en letsels toe te schrijven aan AUD. Zorg staat voor uitdagingen. Zo krijgt meer dan de helft van de AUD-patiënten binnen een jaar na behandeling een terugval. Een oplossing hiervoor is de inzet van Cue-Exposure-Therapy (CET). Daarbij worden cliënten blootgesteld aan triggers d.m.v. objecten, mensen en omgevingen die zucht opwekken. Om op een realistische, veilige en gepersonaliseerde manier deze triggers te ervaren, wordt Virtual Reality ingezet (VRET). Op die manier worden coping-vaardigheden getraind om verlangen naar alcohol tegen te gaan. De effectiviteit van VRET is (klinisch) bewezen. De komst van AR-technologieën roept echter de vraag op om mogelijkheden van Augmented-Reality-Exposure-Therapy (ARET) te onderzoeken. ARET geniet dezelfde voordelen als VRET (zoals een realistische veilige ervaring). Maar omdat AR virtuele-componenten in de echte omgeving integreert, waarbij het lichaam zichtbaar is, roept het vermoedelijk een ander type ervaring op. Dit kan de ecologische validiteit van CET in de behandeling vergroten. Daarnaast is ARET goedkoper te ontwikkelen (minder virtuele elementen) en hebben cliënten/klinieken gemakkelijker toegang tot AR (via smartphone/tablet). Bovendien worden nieuwe AR-brillen ontwikkeld, die nadelen zoals een te klein smartphone-scherm oplossen. Ondanks de vraag vanuit behandelaars, is ARET nog nooit ontwikkeld en onderzocht rondom verslaving. In dit project wordt het eerste ARET-prototype ontwikkeld rondom AUD in de behandeling van alcoholverslaving. Het prototype wordt ontwikkeld op basis van Volumetric-Captured-Digital-Humans en toegankelijk gemaakt voor AR-brillen, tablets en smartphones. Het prototype wordt gebaseerd op RECOVRY, een door het consortium ontwikkelde VRET rondom AUD. Een prototype-test onder (ex)AUD-cliënten zal inzicht geven in behoeften en verbeterpunten vanuit patiënt en zorgverlener en in het effect van ARET in vergelijk met VRET.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major problem. In the USA alone there are 15 million people with an AUD and more than 950,000 Dutch people drink excessively. Worldwide, 3-8% of all deaths and 5% of all illnesses and injuries are attributable to AUD. Care faces challenges. For example, more than half of AUD patients relapse within a year of treatment. A solution for this is the use of Cue-Exposure-Therapy (CET). Clients are exposed to triggers through objects, people and environments that arouse craving. Virtual Reality (VRET) is used to experience these triggers in a realistic, safe, and personalized way. In this way, coping skills are trained to counteract alcohol cravings. The effectiveness of VRET has been (clinically) proven. However, the advent of AR technologies raises the question of exploring possibilities of Augmented-Reality-Exposure-Therapy (ARET). ARET enjoys the same benefits as VRET (such as a realistic safe experience). But because AR integrates virtual components into the real environment, with the body visible, it presumably evokes a different type of experience. This may increase the ecological validity of CET in treatment. In addition, ARET is cheaper to develop (fewer virtual elements) and clients/clinics have easier access to AR (via smartphone/tablet). In addition, new AR glasses are being developed, which solve disadvantages such as a smartphone screen that is too small. Despite the demand from practitioners, ARET has never been developed and researched around addiction. In this project, the first ARET prototype is developed around AUD in the treatment of alcohol addiction. The prototype is being developed based on Volumetric-Captured-Digital-Humans and made accessible for AR glasses, tablets and smartphones. The prototype will be based on RECOVRY, a VRET around AUD developed by the consortium. A prototype test among (ex)AUD clients will provide insight into needs and points for improvement from patient and care provider and into the effect of ARET compared to VRET.
The objective of DIGIREAL-XL is to build a Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) Center (SPRONG GROUP, level 4) on Digital Realities (DR) for Societal-Economic Impact. DR are intelligent, interactive, and immersive digital environments that seamlessly integrate Data, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Modelling-Simulation, and Visualization by using Game and Media Technologies (Game platforms/VR/AR/MR). Examples of these DR disruptive innovations can be seen in many domains, such as in the entertainment and service industries (Digital Humans); in the entertainment, leisure, learning, and culture domain (Virtual Museums and Music festivals) and within the decision making and spatial planning domain (Digital Twins). There are many well-recognized innovations in each of the enabling technologies (Data, AI,V/AR). However, DIGIREAL-XL goes beyond these disconnected state-of-the-art developments and technologies in its focus on DR as an integrated socio-technical concept. This requires pre-commercial, interdisciplinary RD&I, in cross-sectoral and inter-organizational networks. There is a need for integrating theories, methodologies, smart tools, and cross-disciplinary field labs for the effective and efficient design and production of DR. In doing so, DIGIREAL-XL addresses the challenges formulated under the KIA-Enabling Technologies / Key Methodologies for sectoral and societal transformation. BUas (lead partner) and FONTYS built a SPRONG group level 4 based on four pillars: RD&I-Program, Field Labs, Lab-Infrastructure, and Organizational Excellence Program. This provides a solid foundation to initiate and execute challenging, externally funded RD&I projects with partners in SPRONG stage one ('21-'25) and beyond (until' 29). DIGIREAL-XL is organized in a coherent set of Work Packages with clear objectives, tasks, deliverables, and milestones. The SPRONG group is well-positioned within the emerging MINDLABS Interactive Technologies eco-system and strengthens the regional (North-Brabant) digitalization agenda. Field labs on DR work with support and co-funding by many network organizations such as Digishape and Chronosphere and public, private, and societal organizations.
