Human 9

 I was kindly invited to attend the first meet up for the Ambulance Service training research group. I introduced myself as working within healthcare training and immersive research. I explained that although I was not part of the service, I had an interest in virtual reality training development and that I was a developer conversant in Unity Game Engine.   I explained that I was really there to listen to the discourse as I have written a research proposal entitled Shepherd’s Shield. This project focused on designing VR for learners safeguarding… to provide safe learning environment to all users.  I said that, it was my understanding that there is a duty of care to provide a safe learning environment and that there doesn’t seem to be any clear safeguarding design principles when it comes to VR.  I continued to explain that I hoped to better understand what provision we make to protect learners when using VR, specifically when the training experience could be potentia...

 I continue to be part of the simulated training research group focusing on virtual reality, augmented reality. I have recently joined the AI research group and the Immersive research group for the ambulance service. I add my voice to these research groups as a VR developer conversant in game engine development, as I focus specifically on safeguarding design. I have a privileged place as a 53 year old female immersive developer with 4 years research experience... (and I'll be damned if I'll waste it ) so it's useful to sit at tables that are not really designed for me.. but i'm always welcomed even if my perspective is unexpected.  I am currently conducting a basic literature search in this field of research and I am on the mailing groups for various immersive, interactive, AI design and research conferences within healthcare.  These will be added to the literature links in this blog.  I also intend to revisit journals that cover similar topics within academia, enter...

 

 I don’t think about AI as artificial intelligence but more as Computational Statistics (CS). I was thinking that AI or rather Machine Learning (ML) could be deployed to acquire (CS) about a players safety preferences such as the point at which they feel comfortable in proximity to other players etc.. in order for an optimal distance be placed between players for example… and in so doing automate an aspect of safeguarding in virtually real social spaces.  But, the following video offers the very dark and disturbing application of CS, and the dangerous safeguarding consequences thereof in parents posting data about their children online. WARNING ; The video is impactful and has triggers relating to child protection.  https://youtu.be/Yaa6-UZRMD8?si=-5oGurHicN0nmbky

 How can virtual reality player safe space design data be captured and analysed ? I am considering the many different ways in which safe player spaces could be designed in VR. I am thinking about how I might protect the player when viewing challenging, emotive story content. While considering how and when I might apply various design devices when designing various white box model prototypes.  I am also beginning to research how and why I might set up effective data capture systems as part of the user research and analysis pro.  My primary concern is the sense of safety that players feel when encountering challenging emotive content to offer protection when viewing potentially distressing scenes, encountering objects that are indicative of the narrative and other player characters. Focusing on players physical and emotional safety as a primary objective will help when designing prototypes that test the solutions applied. I will then be able to experiment with different env...

 To test some of the research, assumptions and questions that I have discovered recently, I decided to write a simple brief so that I could conduct a little practical R&D.  Brief:  Design a Narrative HMD VR Training Experience for mental healthcare practitioners, that immerses learners in a story that presents different aspects of Opioid Addiction.  I should be able to sketch out some initial concepts and then construct a simple white box model prototype in Unity.  Oscillating between practice and theory / theory and practice, is a technique I use in the initial concept development stage when I try to acquire as much research theory and practical examples as possible (depending on time) * *Research and Development is one of the most enjoyable stages of development and could easily continue beyond the economic constraints of a project which is why I love to tinker with these things in my own time  ;)  Opioid Addiction Opioid Addiction is traumatic… ...

  Hypothesis A Narrative (Cinematic) HMD VR Immersive experience is more effective than other modes of TEL Delivery because experiential, interactive, open-ended exploration leads to highly effective knowledge acquisition, retention and application in practice, when engaging with story-based mental health learning content.  more effective than passive learning.  supports training practitioners knowledge acquisition, retention and application of challenging mental health topics (Example opioid addiction) learning content more effectively Research Question Can HMD VR Environments be designed to safely immerse mental Healthcare practitioners in learning experience that explores challenging mental health topics more effectively than alternative modes of delivery ?  Trauma and Safe Immersion  HMD VR (Cinematic) Narrative Design  Research Location    Located in the triangulation between :  1. TEL Design : Mental Healthcare and Wellbeing Training an...