DEMONSTRATION - PATIENT

Clients with a variety of communication disorders will have an opportunity to practice their therapeutic intervention techniques in the following virtual scenarios:

• • McDonald's Fast Food Restaurant
• • McDonald's Drive Thru

The McDonald's IVR simulation films consist of several branched segments allowing clients the ability to interact freely with the McDonald workers and restaurant patrons. Interactions with the McDonald's workers and patrons are determined by the questions, comments and social behaviors derived from the client in the simulator.

The speech-language pathologist controls the overall interaction by selecting the appropriate responses and behaviors for the virtual worker. Hence, there is a need for multiple branched film clips to allow for a variety of interactions and outcomes.

The IVR lab is equipped with digital video recording equipment to provide visual support and feedback to clients following each virtual experience. In addition, clients will be encouraged to wear biometric feedback instrumentation to track their heart rate, skin conductance and temperature to gage levels of presence during interactions in the virtual settings. Clients will be permitted to repeat the IVR-simulations as many times as they desire since there are many outcomes depending on their communication skills.