Shader Lamps Virtual Patients: the Physical Manifestation of Virtual Patients
Diego J. Rivera-Gutierrez, Greg Welch, Peter Lincoln, Mary C. Whitton, Juan Carlos Cendan, David A. Chesnutt, Henry Fuchs, Benjamin Chak Lum Lok · Studies in health technology and informatics · 2012
We introduce the notion of Shader Lamps Virtual Patients (SLVP) - the combination of projector-based Shader Lamps Avatars and interactive virtual humans. This paradigm uses Shader Lamps Avatars technology to give a 3D physical presence to conversational virtual humans, improving their social interactivity and enabling them to share the physical space with the user. The paradigm scales naturally to multiple viewers, allowing for scenarios where an instructor and multiple students are involved in the training. We have developed a physical-virtual patient for medical students to conduct ophthalmic exams, in an interactive training experience. In this experience, the trainee practices multiple skills simultaneously, including using a surrogate optical instrument in front of a physical head, conversing with the patient about his fears, observing realistic head motion, and practicing patient safety. Here we present a prototype system and results from a preliminary formative evaluation of the system.