Virtual Therapist - U.S.-France Workshop May 2-3, 2007 in Bordeaux, France

这是一个为期12个月的标准奖项。这笔资金将用于支持约10名美国研究人员参加将于2007年5月2日至3日在法国波尔多举行的美法联合研讨会。计算机科学和工程的最新进展已经实现了新的和前所未有的机会，通过基于计算机的治疗，使用像生活一样的计算机角色，这些角色表现得像敏感而有效的导师或治疗师，使个人受益。本次研讨会将汇集来自美国和法国的计算机科学和言语和语言病理学方面的研究人员，他们希望合作推进实现虚拟治疗系统所需的技术，为神经系统疾病患者提供可获得和有效的治疗。虚拟辅导和治疗系统的研究和发展需要对有效行为治疗过程中发生的交流过程有深刻的理解，并了解如何设计人机界面来模拟这些交流过程，以优化用户参与度和治疗效果。研讨会将允许研究人员分享从他们的研究中获得的见解，并提出未来的工作，以推进有关人类交流、临床治疗和基于这些知识设计有效治疗的知识。研讨会的第一天将由美国和法国的研究人员介绍正在进行的开发工具、技术和治疗方法的工作，这些工具、技术和治疗方法可以使神经系统疾病患者受益。研讨会的第二天将汇集一小群研究人员，他们将共同探索启动和维持合作研究项目的方法。更广泛的影响：具有可选的在线临床医生监督的虚拟人体系统可以提供一种可访问且廉价的手段，为数百万人提供有效的行为治疗。提议的研讨会有可能通过国际合作加速虚拟治疗系统的研究和开发。本次研讨会预计将导致美国和法国研究人员之间的合作，将产生新的知识和法语和英语的虚拟治疗系统，这些系统将在每个国家的帕金森病和失语症患者中进行评估。

This is a 12 month standard award. This is funding to support participation by approximately 10 researchers from the United States in a joint U.S.-France workshop to be held May 2-3, 2007 in Bordeaux, France. Recent advances in computer science and engineering have realized new and unprecedented opportunities to benefit individuals through computer-based treatments that use life-like computer characters that behave like sensitive and effective tutors or therapists. This workshop will bring together researchers in computer science and speech and language pathology from the United States and France who desire to collaborate to advance the technology needed to realize virtual therapy systems that can provide accessible and effective treatments to individuals with neurological disorders. Research and development of virtual tutoring and therapy systems requires a deep understanding of the communication processes that occur during effective behavioral therapies, and knowledge about how to design human computer interfaces that model these communication processes to optimize user engagement and treatment effectiveness. The workshop will allow researchers to share insights gained from their research and to propose future work to advance knowledge about human communication, clinical treatments and the design of effective treatments based on this knowledge. The first day of the workshop will involve presentations by U.S. and French researchers related to ongoing efforts to develop the tools, technologies and treatments that can benefit individuals with neurological disorders. The second day of the workshop will bring together a smaller group of researchers who will work together to explore ways to initiate and sustain collaborative research projects. Broader Impact: Virtual human systems with optional online clinician oversight can offer an accessible and inexpensive means to provide effective behavioral treatments to millions of individuals. The proposed workshop has the potential to accelerate research and development of virtual therapy systems through international collaboration. This workshop is expected to lead to collaborations among U.S. and French researchers that will result in new knowledge and in virtual therapy systems in French and English that will be evaluated in each country with individuals with Parkinson disease and aphasia.