Virtual approach to psychomotor skills training: Manipulating the appearance of avatars to influence learning

Abstract

Using avatars as virtual instructors is becoming increasingly popular in the military domain due to the emerging advances in distributive technologies (e.g., internet, virtual worlds, etc.). The use of virtual environments and avatars are viable means for achieving enhancements in the area of psychomotor skill development. Although prior research has focused on investigating the benefits of implementing virtual agents into learning environments, there is limited research on examining the impact an avatar’s physical appearance has on training. The purpose of this paper is to examine the fundamental applications of three types of virtual avatars (i.e., generic, highly recognizable subject matter expert (SME), and doppelganger) and provide recommendations for future psychomotor skills training. A case study assesses the benefits of applying this virtual approach to physical therapy. Finally, this research seeks to expand the knowledge base of several training domains, such as the military, rehabilitation, high performance athletic training, etc.