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Applying Interactive Machine Teaching to Conversational Agents in VR, and Mindbot: a Mindfulness Assistant in VR

Conversational agents and virtual reality are two emerging technologies that are increasingly being explored in mental health research. Although the combination of these technologies could provide easily accessible and cost-effective treatment for a wide range of health behaviors, use of this opportunity in healthcare has not yet been undertaken. Inherent difficulties of leveraging conversational agent solutions for non machine learning(ML) experts, and challenges - operational as well as legislative -regarding the exploitation of its capabilities, has posed a bottleneck for further adoption in the domain. This study applies interactive machine teaching principles, in the creation of a technical system enabling health-care clinicians (or any other non-ML experts) continuously develop and improve conversational agents deployed in VR applications. The methodology adopted first conducted a literature review providing background knowledge of the field, how conversational agents in VR could support clinicians and patients, methodological aspects and focus of the study. Secondly, a proof-of-concept VR system implementing a conversational agent for stress rehabilitation was developed in joint consultation with psychologists and later evaluated in an experimental study. This study presents a novel approach for deploying VR-based health interventions implementing conversational agents, and findings suggest the feasibility of such applications and the opportunities it has to support clinicians and patients in reaching their goals.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:umu-191709
Date January 2022
CreatorsHäggström Fordell, Vidar
PublisherUmeå universitet, Institutionen för datavetenskap
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
RelationUMNAD ; 1303

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