SimCoach
Download a one sheet PDF overview of this project.
The goal of SimCoach is to create an experience that will motivate troops and their significant others to take the first step – to empower themselves with regard to their healthcare (e.g., psychological health and traumatic brain injury) and general personal welfare (i.e., other non-medical stressors such as economic or relationship issues) – and encourage them to take the next step towards seeking other, more formal resources that are available. The SimCoach experience will be designed to attract and engage these soldiers and their significant others who might not otherwise seek help (whether due to stigma, lack of awareness or a general reluctance to seek help). SimCoach will not be able to breakdown all the barriers identified above or provide diagnostic or therapy services. Rather, SimCoach will aim to foster comfort and confidence in promoting users’ effort to understand their situation better, explore available options and initiate the treatment process when needed.
Users will ideally be able to access the system with a low-end computer and no special software (the desired platform is the web, but technical feasibility will need to be assessed to determine if the entire experience – especially the virtual humans – can be delivered through the web). The users will also be allowed to remain completely anonymous. When they arrive, the users will find a very simple launch point that will allow them to explore specific psychological health and TBI-related issues if they are already self-directed or to “wander around” to get comfortable with the system and/or the issues that they may (or may not) be facing.
SimCoach will provide users with a choice of options for selecting from a variety of virtual human characters and personalities. Based on information garnered through the interaction between the user and the virtual human, as well as the evocative design of the specific avatar, the user will be given appropriate levels of direct or indirect information or suggestions regarding access to relevant information on psychology, social work, neurology, rehabilitation, the military healthcare system, and also to other Service Members.
Users will also be directed to experts on specific topics including stress, depression, brain injury, relationship counseling, substance abuse, suicide, rehabilitation, reintegration and other relevant specialties as appropriate. In addition to interaction with avatars, the system will deliver complementary content that will augment the interactions with the characters. This could include edited content such as articles, video testimonials and blog posts as well as connection to peers and other support systems through forums and community groups. There will also be options to allow the user to perform some simple neurocognitive and psychological tests to help inform self-awareness or aid in making decisions on initial referral options. Users will also have the option to print out a summary of the computerized sessions to bring with them when seeking medical treatment to enhance their comfort level, armed with knowledge, when dealing with human clinical care providers and experts.
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