GameTech: Top Ten Research Findings in Games from 2012
Dr. Alicia Sanchez & Dr. Clint Bowers | April 28, 2013
Introductory Note: The “Top Ten Research Findings in Games from 2012″ was presented by Dr. Alicia Sanchez and Dr. Clint Bowers at the Defense GameTech Users’ Conference 2013 in Orlando on April 17, 2013. This blog post highlights the major findings from each paper. Read more
IllumiRoom and Presence
Michael Schwartz | April 14, 2013
There exists much speculation about when the next version of Microsoft’s gaming console, Xbox 720 (aka Durango), will release; however, the Washington based company has already released details about a next-generation immersive gaming system which extends gameplay beyond the television screen. Read more
Selective Mutism App at FLAVRS 2013
Katelyn Procci | March 30, 2013
On Monday, March 18, 2013, the Selective Mutism app was shown at the Florida Academic Virtual Reality Showcase (FLAVRS) here in Orlando. This event was a part of the IEEE Virtual Reality 2013 conference, which had nearly two-dozen stations featuring VR-related work from a variety of Florida-based universities. Read more
Training the Workforce, Part 5: Feedback Motivation in Action
Jen Loglia | March 14, 2013
This is part 4 of an on-going series of blogs on using games for training the workforce.
My boyfriend was sitting at the computer and called out to me “We should do this together.” Naturally, I responded “Do what together?” He replied, “Learn French.” Nuh uh, nope, I did not want to do it, I said. But then I peered at his screen, and on it was a simple request: Read more
Training the Workforce, Part 4: Can I Get a Little Feedback?
Skilan Ortiz | February 28, 2013
This is part 4 of an on-going series of blogs on using games for training the workforce.
The first 3 parts of this Training the Workforce series has seen us take a look at transfer of training, the potential of using video game training, and how motivation can help transfer of training. In part 4 we will discuss feedback; how it can help training in general, and why it helps video game training be so effective in particular. Read more
Training the Workforce, Part 3: What Motivates Your Employees To Perform?
Brian Eddy | February 4, 2013
This is part 3 of an on-going series of blogs on using games for training the workforce.
In my previous blog, I talk about my experiences with two organizations and the effectiveness of training types and feedback procedures presented to the trainee. This blog however, will diverge from the main topic of transfer of training to a minor tangent on the trainee/employee mindset when approaching the job tasks following training. Transfer of training is not only a contributor to a knowledgeable employee but it is highly important in instilling motivation. Read more
Lift-Off! wins Best of Show Academic – Student at the 3rd Annual Serious Games and Virtual Environments Showcase!
Katelyn Procci | January 29, 2013
The 3rd Annual Serious Games and Virtual Environments Showcase was held this past Monday (1/28/2013) in Orlando, Florida at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare 2013, sponsored by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The arcade featured games from both academic labs and commercial organizations. During the awards ceremony, our prototype app for treating selective mutism won Best of Show Academic in the Student category. Read more
The Case for Iterative Usability Testing
Michael Schwartz | January 25, 2013
Imagine you’re trying out a new recipe for a sauce. The tomatoes and onions have been chopped and added, the fresh basil and thyme mixed in, and the mixture simmers on the stove. You’re left with nothing to do for several hours except clean up and maybe work on that bottle of Pinot Noir sitting on the counter. The kitchen smells great, but will your palate agree with your nose? Do you try a taste now or wait another three hours until the sauce is done and ready for consumption? Read more
Gamers: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Katelyn Procci | December 21, 2012
All of those hours spent with a controller in your hand might make you better suited for learning certain tasks in the medical profession. Last Month, Wired UK published an article in which they reported on a study by Dr. Sami Kilic from the University of Texas Medical Branch, in which he and his colleagues found that gamers may learn how to perform robotically-assisted surgery faster than their non-gamer peers. Read more
SNE Requirements of Emergency Management Training
Asli Soyler Akbas | December 17, 2012
Disaster management demonstrates three characteristics: ‘Uniqueness’, ‘Transient Nature’, and being a ‘Novel Process’ [1], making events and actions of the affected population unpredictable. This requires emergency response personnel to use their knowledge and skills gained from prior training. Capturing this in game-based training, through the use of synthetic natural environemtns (SNEs) has several requirements for success. Read more
