Skip to main content

Using Run-Time Biofeedback During Virtual Agent-Based Aggression De-escalation Training

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Practical Applications of Agents, Multi-Agent Systems, and Complexity: The PAAMS Collection (PAAMS 2018)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 10978))

Abstract

This exploratory study discusses how biofeedback can be displayed and used in the context of virtual agent-based social skills training. Using Virtual Reality, a prototype of an aggression de-escalation training application has been developed. The application simulates an adaptive scenario in which the user interacts with a threatening virtual conversation partner. The stress level of the user, which is displayed at run-time, influences the development of the scenario. A pilot experiment is conducted to test the impact of the application on users’ subjective experience (measured through a questionnaire) and physiological response (measured through skin conductance). Although preliminary, the results seem to indicate that biofeedback potentially contributes to enhancing the user’s awareness of his/her own emotional state. Implications for the use of biofeedback within virtual training applications are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    pages.samsung.com/ca/launchingpeople/English.

  2. 2.

    guidedmeditationvr.com.

  3. 3.

    www.exploredeep.com.

  4. 4.

    themill.com/portfolio/3409/strata-?q=strata.

  5. 5.

    www.eco-fusion.com/serenita.

  6. 6.

    biofeedbackinternational.com/esense.

  7. 7.

    play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.azumio.android.stresscheck&hl=en.

  8. 8.

    unity3d.com.

  9. 9.

    audacityteam.org.

  10. 10.

    reallusion.com.

  11. 11.

    www.oculus.com/rift.

References

  1. Anderson, K., et al.: The TARDIS framework: intelligent virtual agents for social coaching in job interviews. In: Reidsma, D., Katayose, H., Nijholt, A. (eds.) ACE 2013. LNCS, vol. 8253, pp. 476–491. Springer, Cham (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03161-3_35

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Bertram, J., Moskaliuk, J., Cress, U.: Virtual training: making reality work? Comput. Hum. Behav. 43, 284–292 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bosse, T., Gerritsen, C., de Man, J.: An intelligent system for aggression de-escalation training. In: ECAI, pp. 1805–1811 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bosse, T., Provoost, S.: Integrating conversation trees and cognitive models within an ECA for aggression de-escalation training. In: Chen, Q., Torroni, P., Villata, S., Hsu, J., Omicini, A. (eds.) PRIMA 2015. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 9387, pp. 650–659. Springer, Cham (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25524-8_48

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  5. Boucsein, W.: Electrodermal Activity. Springer, Boston (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1126-0

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Chittaro, L., Sioni, R.: Affective computing vs. affective placebo: study of a biofeedback-controlled game for relaxation training. Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud. 72(8), 663–673 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chollet, M., Stefanov, K., Prendinger, H., Scherer, S.: Public speaking training with a multimodal interactive virtual audience framework. In: Proceedings of the 2015 ACM on International Conference on Multimodal Interaction, pp. 367–368. ACM (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dillon, A., Kelly, M., Robertson, I.H., Robertson, D.A.: Smartphone applications utilizing biofeedback can aid stress reduction. Front. Psychol. 7, 832 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gebhard, P., Baur, T., Damian, I., Mehlmann, G., Wagner, J., André, E.: Exploring interaction strategies for virtual characters to induce stress in simulated job interviews. In: Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-agent Systems, pp. 661–668. International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Goedschalk, L., Bosse, T., Otte, M.: Get your virtual hands off me! – developing threatening IVAs using haptic feedback. In: Verheij, B., Wiering, M. (eds.) BNAIC 2017. CCIS, vol. 823, pp. 61–75. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76892-2_5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Hartanto, D., Kampmann, I.L., Morina, N., Emmelkamp, P.G., Neerincx, M.A., Brinkman, W.P.: Controlling social stress in virtual reality environments. PLoS One 9(3), e92804 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kenny, P., Hartholt, A., Gratch, J., Swartout, W., Traum, D., Marsella, S., Piepol, D.: Building interactive virtual humans for training environments. In: Proceedings of I/ITSEC, vol. 174 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Krijn, M., Emmelkamp, P.M., Olafsson, R.P., Biemond, R.: Virtual reality exposure therapy of anxiety disorders: a review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 24(3), 259–281 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Muñoz, J.E., Paulino, T., Vasanth, H., Baras, K.: PhysioVR: a novel mobile virtual reality framework for physiological computing. In: 2016 IEEE 18th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom), pp. 1–6. IEEE (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Pallavicini, F., Argenton, L., Toniazzi, N., Aceti, L., Mantovani, F.: Virtual reality applications for stress management training in the military. Aerosp. Med. Hum. Perform. 87(12), 1021–1030 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Romy A. M. Blankendaal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Blankendaal, R.A.M., Bosse, T. (2018). Using Run-Time Biofeedback During Virtual Agent-Based Aggression De-escalation Training. In: Demazeau, Y., An, B., Bajo, J., Fernández-Caballero, A. (eds) Advances in Practical Applications of Agents, Multi-Agent Systems, and Complexity: The PAAMS Collection. PAAMS 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10978. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94580-4_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94580-4_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94579-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94580-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics