There is one trend that we have not touched basis on in class which is the use of avatars for training techniques. Avatars serve as a simulated person taking on a unique look or person to present information for training in a more interactive way. Avatars can create human qualities to enhance any form of presentation which in turn makes training much easier to comprehend. They can be perceived as realistic and well-liked social partners in conversations that simulate real-world interactions
Avatars are also more enjoyable to use opposed to reading material the traditional way. Avatars can also be used for e-learning or online-learning giving the trainee access to an avatar outside the boundaries of a workplace. One major example of the use of avatars is the online interactive software known as second life. Avatars are used on second life to provide a virtual training experience providing detailed instruction to all the participants in the virtual world of second life. This website illustrates some training techniques with avatars used in second life.
http://second-life-training.ahg.com/second%20life%20simulations%20using%20robot%20avatars.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Brad,
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic. I like how we are in a "virtual environment" that can foster the type of learning and collaborating that you mentioned. James Cameron has even dabbled into it with the most profitable movie of all time AVATAR.
Do you think that with web 3.0, that we will start to see a user created avatar that will be cross platform, and interact with multiple web products? Or will we have a different avatar at work, in the classroom, and on social media sites?
Good Post!
I like the idea of the Avatar based training. I did however try Second Life, and found that the controls were a bit confusing, and for someone who is fairly familiar with video games, I can't imagine what it would be like to have something like Second Life required to learn during a course. Hopefully a more user-friendly method of movement and avatar manipulation could be created fairly soon. If that happens, I could easily see this form of training taking off.
ReplyDeleteColt, an excellent point regarding the Second Life interface. I agree that there is too much of a learning curve for Second Life to make it a viable training environment. Daniel, an interesting idea about creating ONE avatar that can cross platforms...basically your online representative! I am looking forward to the day that a virtual environment is user-friendly, maybe as friendly as Farmville! lbk
ReplyDelete