pathologists. Research generated from the VICSR lab is expected to have a national impact on helping children and adults overcome a variety of speech and language disorders.
The theater surrounds the patient or student with three eight by ten foot screens and enables them to experience an interactive training simulation which utilizes state-of-the-art rear projection technology coupled with computers and sensors for 'real world' experiences . Just like in the real world, anything can happen depending on how the instructor or professional operate the control station that responds to the patient or student interactions.
The technology, VICSR, is new for the field of communication sciences and disorders. The interactive virtual reality theater was built in April 2006 in Room 414 in the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center on Euclid Avenue and is one of the first of its kind in the world. This new technology offers hope for some one in 9 young children with speech disorders, the over 3 million Americans that stutter and for the 6-8 million people that have some form of language impairment including stoke victims and Alzheimer's patients (National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, 2006).
VICSR is also being used to train future speech therapists at Case in communication disorders and doctors specializing in pediatric medicine where many times a speech therapist and pediatrician join efforts in a diagnostic and treatment plan to help families and their children. Interactive virtual reality scenarios have the potential to provide professional training in a safe, controlled, learner-centered environment wherein students can repeatedly practice a range of clinical skills without endangering patients in much the same way as Air Force and commercial airline pilots practice emergency flying situations.
As part of VICSR, simulation films are being produced that include real life, everyday scenarios like ordering a hamburger at the counter of a McDonald's® restaurant or their drive-up window. As produced, these scenarios are archived as part of a new immersive virtual reality film library. Speech language pathologists and other professionals around the nation will be able to access these films for a variety of patients working on similar treatment goals. Additional films being completed include interactive case studies for Case graduate students enabling them to interact and diagnose patients with particular speech and language problems.
VICSR monitors patients and students through a new biometric feedback system that tracks heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature and respiration to gage levels of engagement and anxiety during interactions in the virtual setting. "We need our patients and students to be totally immersed in this as a real life experience," said Williams. "If we cannot reach that level of presence, then we are getting back to basic role playing exercises that may not carry over to everyday life." "This method is particularly effective in treating children - where the best learning environment for young children is one that is highly motivating, interactive and fun."
The virtual reality theater is scheduled to open Fall 2006. Researchers will see whether this interactive theater can not only offer a new therapeutic approach for real life simulations, but provide additional research opportunities in areas like literacy. Given the interactive nature of this virtual reality theater, students (grades K-6) can improve their literacy abilities by learning how to read, write and speak effectively from a virtual animated tutor. Targeting literacy skills through interactive virtual environments can improve literacy in adults by building their reading,writing, listening and speakingskills - critical for basic employment and a quality of life for all people. |
