Situated simulation for training, education, and therapy

• US 9,911,352 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
• Original Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
• Inventors: Williams, Stacy L, Buchner, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaman, Sadaruz
• Application Number:
  US12/520,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,728 Days
• Field of Search: 434185, 434156
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 specially adapted for particular use

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing an immersive training content module (ITCM) are described. One example system includes a capture logic to acquire information from which the ITCM may be produced. An ITCM may include a set of nodes, a set of measures, a logic to control transitions between nodes during a training session, and a logic to establish values for measures during the training sessions. Therefore, the example system may also include an assessment definition logic to define a set of measures to be included in the ITCM and an interaction logic to define a set of interactions to be included in the ITCM. The ITCM may be written to a computer-readable medium.

Claims

1. A motion suit based responsive training system, comprising:

a motion suit;

a training device comprising;

a display screen,

a non-transitory computer readable medium structured to store a plurality of instructions, and

a microprocessor structured to execute the plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to;

generate an avatar portray a communication disorder by rendering the avatar on the display screen using electronic motion data from one or more hardware input devices including at least the motion suit,

define a set of nodes in an electronic data structure using an electronic data object, the electronic data structure corresponding to actions indicative of the communication disorder that are selectively performed by the avatar when rendered on the display screen;

electronically populate in the electronic data structure measures associated with the set of nodes with values that correspond to diagnostic tools selected by a user via electronic inputs to analyze the actions performed by the avatar;

transition between nodes of the set of nodes based, at least in part, on the values selected by the user via the electronic inputs in response to the actions of the avatar in order to provide adaptive training to the user by causing the avatar to be rendered on the display screen according to the selected values, wherein each of the set of nodes causes avatar on the display screen to perform different actions; and

electronically generate and assign a score to the values selected by the user via the electronic inputs to evaluate a training competency of the user in identifying a communication disorder portrayed by the avatar when rendered on the display screen according to the electronic motion data and the electronic inputs.

2. The system of claim 1, where the set of nodes are defined so as to form a graph type of data structure.

3. The system of claim 1, where the training device is configured to receive electronic input that specifies a value in response to a selection of one of the diagnostic tools by the user.

4. The system of claim 1, where the score is a function of a metric to evaluate the values selected when traversing nodes by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, where portraying the communication disorder includes generating the avatar with an articulatory movement, an articulatory precision, voice modulation, voice resonance, pacing, stuttering, slurring, autism characteristics, selective mutism characteristics, aphasia characteristics, language-learning disabilities, cognitive/mental challenges, or a comprehension measure associated with the communication disorder.

6. The system of claim 1, where the transition to a different node is based, at least in part, on an amount of time for the user to select the value of the plurality of values.

7. The system of claim 1, where the display screen is structured to render the avatar in a setting including one of a higher education setting, an allied health professional setting, a hostage negotiation setting, an occupational therapy setting, or a physical therapy setting.

8. A responsive training device comprising:

an input port structured to receive data from a motion suit;

a display screen;

a processing device, and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processing device cause the processing device to;

generate, using electronic motion data received from the motion suit via the input port, an avatar to portray a communication disorder by rendering the avatar on the display screen;

define a set of nodes in an electronic data structure corresponding to actions indicative of the speech that are selectively performed by the avatar when rendered on the electronic display screen, where defining the set of nodes includes defining the set of nodes using an electronic data object stored in the electronic data structure;

electronically populate measures associated with the set of nodes with values that correspond to diagnostic tools selected by a user via a user input to analyze the actions performed by the avatar displayed on the display screen;

transition between nodes based, at least in part, on the values selected by the user via the user input in response to the actions of the avatar rendered on the display screen, where transitioned between the nodes provides adaptive training to the user according to the selected values, and where each of the set of nodes causes the avatar to be rendered on the display screen performing different actions; and

electronically generate and assign a score to the values selected by the user to evaluate a training competency of the user in identifying a communication disorder portrayed by the avatar when rendered on the display screen according to the electronic motion data and the electronic inputs.

9. The training device of claim 8, where the set of nodes are defined to form a graph type of data structure.

10. The training device of claim 8, where a value is generated in response to an electronic input by the user selecting one of the diagnostic tools.

11. The training device of claim 8, where the score is a function of an amount of time that a user takes to select a value.

12. The training device of claim 8, where generating the score is a function of an amount of time that a user takes to select a value.

13. The training device of claim 8, where generating the avatar to portray the communication disorder includes generating the avatar with an articulatory movement, an articulatory precision, voice modulation, voice resonance, pacing, stuttering, slurring, autism characteristics, selective mutism characteristics, aphasia characteristics, language-learning disabilities, cognitive/mental challenges and a comprehension measure associated with the communication disorder.

14. The training device of claim 8, wherein the display screen is structured to render the avatar in a setting including one of a higher education setting, an allied health professional setting, a hostage negotiation setting, an occupational therapy setting, and a physical therapy setting.