Technical Artist Intern 0910
January 07, 2009
Project Name
PTSD/VR Therapy – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Virtual Reality Therapy
Project Description
Prior to the availability of VR therapy applications, the existing standard of care for PTSD was imaginal exposure therapy. Such treatment typically involves the graded and repeated imaginal reliving of the traumatic event within the therapeutic setting. This approach is believed to provide a low-threat context where the patient can begin to therapeutically process the emotions that are relevant to the traumatic event as well as de-condition the learning cycle of the disorder via a habituation/extinction process. While the efficacy of imaginal exposure has been established in multiple studies with diverse trauma populations (Rothbaum & Schwartz, 2002), many patients are unwilling or unable to effectively visualize the traumatic event. We have initiated a project that is creating an immersive virtual exposure environment system for the treatment of Iraq War veterans diagnosed with combat-related PTSD. The treatment environment is based on a creative approach to recycling virtual assets that were initially built for the commercial X-Box game, Full Spectrum Warrior. Thus far we have created virtual environments designed to resemble a Desert Roads and a Middle Eastern city. We have also created a “wizard of oz” type clinical interface. This interface is a key element in that it provides a clinician with the capacity to customize the therapy experience to the individual needs of the patient by placing them in VE locations that resemble the setting in which the traumatic events initially occurred. The interface also allows the therapist to gradually introduce and control “trigger” stimuli in the environment in real time as is required to foster the anxiety modulation needed for therapeutic habituation.
Job Description
Technical Artist Intern for programming and 3D animation. Intern to assist with a variety of tasks: modeling, texturing and animating of assets for in-game use within Virtual Environments. Intern will work closely with other team members in the creation of virtual worlds and characters which are employed in R&D demonstrations, training, physical therapy, mental health applications and neurocognitive assessments. Interns will work within a small team of artists, programmers, psychologists and physical/occupational therapist wherein a good collaborative approach is desired from all members.
Skill set:
Modeling and texturing skills based on real world and imaginary reference material
Familiarity with laying out UV’s (in Maya)
Character animation skills
Experience with game engines is a plus: Gamebryo, Ogre, Panda, Vizard
Required application knowledge: Maya, Photoshop, C++
An interest in novel 3D user interface and tracking solutions