Conversational virtual humans are nowadays applied to the field of neuroscience, psychiatry and psychology. The technology has evolved to a point where researchers may begin developing mental health applications that make use of virtual reality patients. Human patients with acute neurological illnesses are often confused and unable to cooperate with clinicians during medical consultations. Imagine a simulated training with virtual humans having real mental disorders, willing to talk to their doctors, and sharing their emotions!
The researchers of Institute for Creative Technologies at University of Southern California explore large virtual human application area for both civilian and military purposes. They created a training environment set in virtual reality and equipped with advanced conversational virtual humans acting as virtual patients.
These virtual humans aim to portray a patient with a specific illness, injury, or mental condition. Physicians’ goal is to detect the disease before it causes the symptoms targeted by current diagnostic techniques. Virtual patients cooperate fully with clinicians during diagnostic interviews. They converse - and therefore interact verbally, they exhibit emotions - so they can interact non-verbally as well. It is an extraordinary innovative way to introduce medicine students into the practical side of their future profession. Virtual humans teach them interpersonal skills, how to deal with a patient and how to proceed in a diagnosis process.
