Digital Care for the Physical EnvironmentA UCL Project Proposal for Equator`Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College London

http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/research/vr

Much of what therapists engage in with their clientsis the construction of artificial environments in whichpeople can learn to overcome their fears.

Prof. Chris BrewinDepartment of Psychology, UCL

1. IntroductionUse of avatars in psychotherapy applicationsSocial phobia + paranoid ideationWhat is required to make these avatars believable?Will a laughing avatar make you laugh?A weeping avatar make you weep? Examplesin public speaking phobia

Overall Results on FOPSEvidence suggests that people do react to virtual audiences with appropriate affectNext stage is to build the method in the context of a treatment programmeTwo clients have already been seen (ReaCTor)Fundamental research question remains: Why does it work?

Paranoid IdeationThis is the typical pattern of thinking displayed in cases of paranoia; it is characterised by suspiciousness and beliefs that one is being followed, plotted against, persecuted, etc.ObjectiveTo assess the extent to which paranoid thoughts could be triggered in a VETo help in understanding how this happens

Typical Debriefing CommentIt was really weird, because they were all definitely in on something and they were all trying to make me nervous. It was clear that they were trying to mock me, they kept on looking at me and when I looked back, they were uuhh The guy with the suit was really weird because he kept smiling at me and it was quite sinister.There were three people on the right one with a suit, I think he was a business man working on his laptop

2. Research IssuesDigital-physical interfaceSynchronous or asynchronousDigital city remains our technical focus:Graphics and modelling issuesProperties that environments and activities must have to maintain believability, presence, copresenceEffectiveness

EffectivenessEffectiveness for what?Psychotherapy applicationProvides clear measures of effectivenessDoes the VE and activities within generate the anxiety response that would have been generated in real life?Can be measured using standard psychological instruments developed over many years.

Levels of ResearchAlgorithmic and interface researchProperties for effectiveness within the given domainHow can these systems be used to help people in the real world, to generate treatment programs, self-help and support groups?

3. Agoraphobiainclude fears not only of open spaces but also of related aspects such as the presence of crowds and the difficulty of immediate easy escape to a safe place (usually home). Operates within the digital city broadly defined (shops, transport, streets)

The user can trigger the number of people surrounding degree of interaction (egocentric/exocentric) weather lighting conditionsA virtual experience within a village on a flat PC screen in 3D with stereo glasses in a 3D immersive environment

IssuesAgoraphobia problem with people going outInitial systems PC based for home useStarting point study of patients and therapistsEthnomethodology? Focus groups?Identify commonalities

IssuesCreate a parameterised environmentIndividuals learn to control aspects of environment (eg, darkness, crowd density, location of exits)More general orchestration and story managementsRelapse panic attacks in vivoHand-held display devices to re-establish calm and control PDAs, digital toys?

IssuesPhysiological feedbackAnxiety measured and relayed to local PDA and to central monitoring system use of wearable devices?Self-help and mass counsellingUse home-based PCs to support shared VEs where people can meet together especially in anxiety producing environments

4. The Way AheadProvides a strong applications focus for our group, with the necessity for underlying research in our specialitiesContinued meeting with colleagues from psychology to map out a 6month 3 year programme in the Equator context.End-goal has clear benefit to wider society.