VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS: AMPUTEES AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS

在美国，创伤性事故和疾病每周导致3000例新的截肢。目前估计截肢者人数超过200万。对于大多数截肢者来说，未经训练的家庭成员承担照顾责任，实际上使受肢体丧失影响的个人人数增加了一倍。截肢者和护理人员都报告需要信息和支持，特别是在头两年。互动戏剧公司（IDI）开发了一种语音驱动的多媒体模型，使用户能够与真人的视频图像进行“面对面”的虚拟对话。在第一阶段，IDI创建了一系列以经验丰富的截肢者为主角的虚拟对话程序原型。一项现场测试涉及23名新的截肢者和护理人员，他们与更有经验的同行进行虚拟对话，证明这一过程不仅可行，而且令人愉快和可信。所有参与者在实践知识方面都有了显著的收获，几乎所有人对截肢者的态度都有了积极的改变。这些发现是第二阶段开发一系列全面的虚拟对话项目的基础，这些项目包括来自不同社会经济和文化背景的各种类型的有经验的截肢者，以及专业的卫生专业人员。本系列将增进截肢者及其家属的知识，改善他们的健康和福祉。拟议的商业应用：互动式访谈将分发给全国的急症护理医院、康复医院和项目、医生、hmo和保险案例管理人员。它还将通过位于田纳西州诺克斯维尔的美国截肢者联盟管理的国家肢体丧失信息中心分发。分发渠道将包括倡导协会和截肢者及家庭照顾者组织。促销活动将包括广告、会议、直接邮寄和直接销售。

Traumatic accidents and disease lead to 3,000 new amputations each week in America. Current estimates place the amputee population above two million. For most amputees an untrained family member assumes caregiving responsibilities, effectively doubling the number personally affected by limb loss. Both amputees and caregivers report the need for information and support, particularly during the first two years. Interactive Drama Inc. (IDI) has developed a voice-driven multimedia model that enables users to conduct "lace-to-face" virtual dialogues with video images of real people. In Phase I, IDI created a prototype series of virtual dialogue programs featuring experienced amputees. A field test involving 23 new amputees and caregivers conducting virtual dialogues with their more experienced peers proved that this process was not only feasible, but enjoyable and believable. All participants showed significant gain in practical knowledge and virtually all had a positive attitude change about amputees. These findings are the basis for the Phase II development of a comprehensive series of virtual dialogue programs featuring experienced amputees of various types from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, as well as expert health professionals. This series will enhance the knowledge and improve the health and well being of amputees and their family caregivers. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The interactive interviews will be distributed to acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals and programs, physicians, HMOs, and insurance case managers throughout the country. It will also be distributed through the National Limb Loss Information Center administered by the Amputee Coalition of America in Knoxville, TN. Distribution channels will include advocacy associations and organizations for amputees and family caregivers. Promotional activities will include advertising, conferences, direct mailings, and direct sales.