v2me - virtual coach reaches out to me

© 2015 Fraunhofer IGD

Affective Interaction with Avatars - AAL Forum Ghent - September 2015

Affective Interaction with AvatarsV2me - Virtual Coach Reaches out to

meDr. Andreas Braun



Agenda

About V2me System Description Piloting and Lessons Learned



About V2meProject Project of AAL JP Call 2 - Social Interaction

Running from May 2010 - October 2013

Goals Reduce loneliness in Europe's Ageing Population Improve social connectedness and quality-of-life



About V2meConsortium Lead: Fraunhofer - Germany VTT - Finland VU Amsterdam - Netherlands Université de Luxembourg - Luxembourg Technische Universität Graz - Austria Mawell Ltd - Finland Hospital AS - Norway User Interface Design GmbH - Germany Diakonie Neuendettelsau - Germany



About V2meApproach Friendship Coaching

Digital version of friendship enrichment program Individual "group therapy"

Adapted Social Networks Easy access Integration of peers, family, and carers

User-Centered-Design and easy interaction Tablet-based controls - virtual coach on a TV Iterative multi-stage development of functions and UI



About V2meApproachMotivator - Dynamic

coaching based on mood of the user

Expert - Coach supports in improving the social network

Mentor - Coach helps if things are not working as planned

Source: Professor marginalia



Agenda




System DescriptionArchitecture

Tablet

Home

S7

Content DB

Content Editor

C2DM Google

► Storage - User & group data - Calender data - FL results - User behavior (log files)

► Storage - 3D meshes - Media files - FL content

►Create FLs► Coach - Friendship Lessons - Social Network - Calendar► Input device

► Visualized 3D coach► Shared Exercises

Kinect

► Push events

► Input device

Information flow



System DescriptionImpressions



System DescriptionImpressions

Content Editor Lesson Editor



Agenda




Piloting and Lessons LearnedLong Term Study Initial phase following UCD

Workshops Iterative Pilots in three countries

Long-term study Goal: Verify if it reduces perceived loneliness Mostly unmonitored test in Netherlands over 3 months 7 users - difficult acquisition process



Piloting and Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Planning of pilots can't start early enough

From a planned 120 to 60 to 12 to 7 Technical difficulties but mostly problems in finding lonely persons that are

willing to participate

Expectations of users They won't get a perfectly running systems Difficulties in assessing usability

Long term tests during a R&D project are "challenging" High effort in training and support needed Large number of systems required



Piloting and Lessons LearnedQuotes from participants - as a friend?

„Sure, why not? But only in a platonic way! “

„He already is a friend. Particularly, since I stopped working, being at home and want to do something. I

turn him own. I have some company.“



Piloting and Lessons LearnedQuotes from participants - criticism

„He has some issues… sometimes he starts talking in the middle of the night!“

„At first I liked him … later he became annoying. There were technical issues, the articulation, the flat

intonation. Why should I bother?“



Thank you for your attention!Affective Interaction with Avatars - AAL Forum 2015Ghent, 23.09.2015

www.v2me.org

v2me - virtual coach reaches out to me

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