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FOX 35 has learned that the University of Central Florida is spending thousands on a surprising project where video game developers are creating life-size avatars and real life scenarios.
But this is no ordinary game. At a price tag of approximately $434,000, it's a new concept aimed at helping to teach pre-teen girls how to resist peer pressure when it comes to sex.
"They have an opportunity to interact with the avatars and they'll earn points for particular social skills that they develop."
Along side UCF's institute for simulation and training, Professor Anne Norris is creating a virtual game which works by using simulation and digital puppetry. It sounds complicated, but it's simple technology.
"What's radically different about this one one person controls many characters by jumping into the skin, " said Charles Hughes, UCF Computer Science professor.
"A boy similar in age might approach the person playing the game and ask her to make out or there might be some sexual innuendo," said Norris.
An “interactor,” or a person controlling a character, jumps into the scenario by wearing a motion-capture suit. Infra-red lights shine down and hit markers. Those markers control the movement of the character.
"It's a place to practice where there aren't any social consequences," said Norris.
The game is expected to be ready by the spring of 2011. UCF developers tell us they will test it using students selected from after school programs.
source
thousands? God our money really is being wasted.
But this is no ordinary game. At a price tag of approximately $434,000, it's a new concept aimed at helping to teach pre-teen girls how to resist peer pressure when it comes to sex.
"They have an opportunity to interact with the avatars and they'll earn points for particular social skills that they develop."
Along side UCF's institute for simulation and training, Professor Anne Norris is creating a virtual game which works by using simulation and digital puppetry. It sounds complicated, but it's simple technology.
"What's radically different about this one one person controls many characters by jumping into the skin, " said Charles Hughes, UCF Computer Science professor.
"A boy similar in age might approach the person playing the game and ask her to make out or there might be some sexual innuendo," said Norris.
An “interactor,” or a person controlling a character, jumps into the scenario by wearing a motion-capture suit. Infra-red lights shine down and hit markers. Those markers control the movement of the character.
"It's a place to practice where there aren't any social consequences," said Norris.
The game is expected to be ready by the spring of 2011. UCF developers tell us they will test it using students selected from after school programs.
source
thousands? God our money really is being wasted.
