D.K.J. Heylen

Emotional characters for automatic plot creation

The Virtual Storyteller is a multi-agent framework for automatic story generation. In this paper we describe how plots emerge from the actions of semi-autonomous character agents, focusing on the influence of the characters’ emotions on plot development.

An agent-based intelligent tutoring system for nurse education

This report describes the development of a teaching environment that uses agents to support learning. An Intelligent Tutoring System will be described, that guides students during learning. This system is meant for nurse education in the first place, but it is generic in the sense that the core is separated from the exercise modules and user interfaces. This means that the system can also be used for other (non-nursing) exercises. Exercises can be provided to the system in the form of XML data-files. A user interface can be text-based or 2D, but it can also be a 3D virtual reality environment. An application of the teaching environment for nurse training is described.

Affective Feedback in a Tutoring System for Procedural Tasks

We discuss the affective aspects of tutoring dialogues in an ITS -called INES- that helps students to practice nursing tasks using a haptic device and a virtual environment. Special attention is paid to affective control in the tutoring process by means of selecting the appropriate feedback, taking into account elements of the student’s character, the harmfulness of errors made, and the emotional effects of errors and feedback. The tutoring system will adjust both the affective language used and the overall teaching tactics.

Developing a generic agent-based intelligent tutoring system

We developed a generic teaching environment that uses agents to support learning. An agent platform developed in our research group is used. The system is generic in the sense that the cognition core (domain model, student model and instruction model) is separated from the exercise modules and user interfaces. The architecture allows different user interfaces. An application of the environment for nurse training has been implemented.

Estimating the Gaze Point of a Student in a Driving Simulator

In this paper we discuss an approach towards passively observing students in a driving simulator. The goal is to enhance the learning experience for students taking lessons in this simulator. To this end, a virtual driving instructor is provided with added information consisting of the gaze behavior of its student. The gaze behavior is defined by estimated head locations and orientations. The learning experience for the student is enhanced by providing added feedback to the student based on his observed behavior.