scholarly journals Smartphone-Based Virtual Agents to Help Individuals With Sleep Concerns During COVID-19 Confinement: Feasibility Study

10.2196/24268 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e24268
Author(s):  
Pierre Philip ◽  
Lucile Dupuy ◽  
Charles M Morin ◽  
Etienne de Sevin ◽  
Stéphanie Bioulac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Sleep Complaints ◽  
Screening Interview ◽  
Insomnia Complaints

Background The COVID-19 crisis and consequent confinement restrictions have caused significant psychosocial stress and reports of sleep complaints, which require early management, have increased during recent months. To help individuals concerned about their sleep, we developed a smartphone-based app called KANOPEE that allows users to interact with a virtual agent dedicated to autonomous screening and delivering digital behavioral interventions. Objective Our objective was to assess the feasibility of this app, in terms of inclusion rate, follow-up rate, perceived trust and acceptance of the virtual agent, and effects of the intervention program, in the context of COVID-19 confinement in France. Methods The virtual agent is an artificial intelligence program using decision tree architecture and interacting through natural body motion and natural voice. A total of 2069 users aged 18 years and above downloaded the free app during the study period (April 22 to May 5, 2020). These users first completed a screening interview based on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) conducted by the virtual agent. If the users were positive for insomnia complaints (ISI score >14), they were eligible to join the 2-stage intervention program: (1) complete an electronic sleep diary for 1 week and (2) follow personalized sleep recommendations for 10 days. We collected and analyzed the following measures: sociodemographic information, ISI scores and sleep/wake schedules, and acceptance and trust of the agent. Results Approximately 76% (1574/2069) of the app users completed the screening interview with the virtual agent. The virtual agent was well accepted by 27.4% (431/1574) of the users who answered the acceptance and trust questionnaires on its usability, satisfaction, benevolence, and credibility. Of the 773 screened users who reported sleep complaints (ISI score >14), 166 (21.5%) followed Step 1 of the intervention, and only 47 of those (28.3%) followed Step 2. Users who completed Step 1 found that their insomnia complaints (baseline mean ISI score 18.56, mean ISI score after Step 1 15.99; P<.001) and nocturnal sleep quality improved significantly after 1 week. Users who completed Step 2 also showed an improvement compared to the initial measures (baseline mean ISI score 18.87, mean ISI score after Step 2 14.68; P<.001). Users that were most severely affected (ISI score >21) did not respond to either intervention. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that the KANOPEE app is a promising solution to screen populations for sleep complaints and that it provides acceptable and practical behavioral advice for individuals reporting moderately severe insomnia.

scholarly journals Smartphone-Based Virtual Agents to Help Individuals With Sleep Concerns During COVID-19 Confinement: Feasibility Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Philip ◽  
Lucile Dupuy ◽  
Charles M Morin ◽  
Etienne de Sevin ◽  
Stéphanie Bioulac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Sleep Complaints ◽  
Screening Interview ◽  
Insomnia Complaints

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 crisis and consequent confinement restrictions have caused significant psychosocial stress and reports of sleep complaints, which require early management, have increased during recent months. To help individuals concerned about their sleep, we developed a smartphone-based app called KANOPEE that allows users to interact with a virtual agent dedicated to autonomous screening and delivering digital behavioral interventions. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to assess the feasibility of this app, in terms of inclusion rate, follow-up rate, perceived trust and acceptance of the virtual agent, and effects of the intervention program, in the context of COVID-19 confinement in France. METHODS The virtual agent is an artificial intelligence program using decision tree architecture and interacting through natural body motion and natural voice. A total of 2069 users aged 18 years and above downloaded the free app during the study period (April 22 to May 5, 2020). These users first completed a screening interview based on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) conducted by the virtual agent. If the users were positive for insomnia complaints (ISI score &gt;14), they were eligible to join the 2-stage intervention program: (1) complete an electronic sleep diary for 1 week and (2) follow personalized sleep recommendations for 10 days. We collected and analyzed the following measures: sociodemographic information, ISI scores and sleep/wake schedules, and acceptance and trust of the agent. RESULTS Approximately 76% (1574/2069) of the app users completed the screening interview with the virtual agent. The virtual agent was well accepted by 27.4% (431/1574) of the users who answered the acceptance and trust questionnaires on its usability, satisfaction, benevolence, and credibility. Of the 773 screened users who reported sleep complaints (ISI score &gt;14), 166 (21.5%) followed Step 1 of the intervention, and only 47 of those (28.3%) followed Step 2. Users who completed Step 1 found that their insomnia complaints (baseline mean ISI score 18.56, mean ISI score after Step 1 15.99; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and nocturnal sleep quality improved significantly after 1 week. Users who completed Step 2 also showed an improvement compared to the initial measures (baseline mean ISI score 18.87, mean ISI score after Step 2 14.68; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Users that were most severely affected (ISI score &gt;21) did not respond to either intervention. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that the KANOPEE app is a promising solution to screen populations for sleep complaints and that it provides acceptable and practical behavioral advice for individuals reporting moderately severe insomnia.

F2FCrowds: Planning Agent Movements to Enable Face-to-Face Interactions

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanmay Randhavane ◽  
Aniket Bera ◽  
Dinesh Manocha
Keyword(s):  
User Study ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Velocity Prediction ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Interaction Velocity ◽  
Full Body

The simulation of human behaviors in virtual environments has many applications. In many of these applications, situations arise in which the user has a face-to-face interaction with a virtual agent. In this work, we present an approach for multi-agent navigation that facilitates a face-to-face interaction between a real user and a virtual agent that is part of a virtual crowd. In order to predict whether the real user is approaching a virtual agent to have a face-to-face interaction or not, we describe a model of approach behavior for virtual agents. We present a novel interaction velocity prediction (IVP) algorithm that is combined with human body motion synthesis constraints and facial actions to improve the behavioral realism of virtual agents. We combine these techniques with full-body virtual crowd simulation and evaluate their benefits by conducting a user study using Oculus HMD in an immersive environment. Results of this user study indicate that the virtual agents using our interaction algorithms appear more responsive and are able to elicit more reaction from the users. Our techniques thus enable face-to-face interactions between a real user and a virtual agent and improve the sense of presence observed by the user.

A Transparent and Decentralized Model of Perception and Action for Intelligent Virtual Agents

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (04) ◽  
pp. 1460020 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Anastassakis ◽  
Themis Panayiotopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Representation ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Perception And Action ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Intelligent Virtual Agents ◽  
Decentralized Model ◽  
Over Time

Intelligent virtual agent behaviour is a crucial element of any virtual environment application as it essentially brings the environment to life, introduces believability and realism and enables complex interactions and evolution over time. However, the development of mechanisms for virtual agent perception and action is neither a trivial nor a straight-forward task. In this paper we present a model of perception and action for intelligent virtual agents that meets specific requirements and can as such be systematically implemented, can seamlessly and transparently integrate with knowledge representation and intelligent reasoning mechanisms, is highly independent of virtual world implementation specifics, and enables virtual agent portability and reuse.

scholarly journals 0377 A Strengths-Based Approach to Examine Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Black and White Patients

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A144-A145
Author(s):  
N J Williams ◽  
M Butler ◽  
J Roseus ◽  
J Blanc ◽  
A Barnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Insomnia Complaints

Abstract Introduction The majority of studies on race/ethnic disparities in OSA are derived from a deficit-based perspective (i.e. &gt;BMI, non-adherence to PAP). It would prove useful to identify which aspects are protective to inform potential treatment approaches. We focused on two potential factors: resilience and social support, in patients newly diagnosed with OSA. Given the high prevalence of insomnia complaints in patients with OSA, insomnia was our outcome of interest. Methods 91 patients newly diagnosed with OSA provided demographic and socioeconomic status, sleep measures (Epworth, DBAS), resilience (Connor Davidson Resiliency Scale), social support (MOS Social Support Scale) and completed the Insomnia Severity Index. The cross-sectional associations between ISI, race/ethnicity, resilience, social support and their interaction effects were examined using linear regression models with covariate adjustment for participant age, sex and BMI. We ascertained total ISI score and individual items. Results The sample was 34.1% black (n=31), mean age of 57.6 years, SD=13.6, 64.8% male (n=59), and mean BMI of 32.4, SD=7.04. Mean sleep duration (as reported by sleep diary) was 6.64, SD=1.35. Black, white differences were not observed for sleepiness (M=8.60; 10.43, p=0.11) or DBAS (M=4.61; M=5.04, p=0.30). Blacks, reported clinically significant insomnia (M=15.00, SD=7.17) compared to whites (M=12.02, SD=6.83, p=0.05). On the individual ISI items, blacks were significantly more likely to endorse difficulty falling asleep (M=1.58, SD=1.54; M=0.75, SD=0.93,p=0.002) and waking up too early (M=2.09, SD=1.26; M=1.45, SD=0.93,p=0.021) compared to whites. Resilience (M=30.04, SD=6.42) and social support scores (M=74.13, SD=21.36) did not differ by race/ethnicity. In adjusted linear analysis, resilience had significant effect on ISI score (b=-0.36, SE=0.12, p=0.003) but not social support (b=-0.06, SE=0.08, p=0.31). Conclusion In this study we did not observe race/ethnic differences for sleepiness and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. With respect to the protective factors, race/ethnic differences were not observed. Resilience, not social support, was related to insomnia complaints. Future studies should examine a variety of factors that may serve black and other racial/ethnic groups with OSA, and help elucidate protective processes. Support K23HL125939

On virtual environments and agents in next-generation computer games

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Torres
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Computer Games ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Game Development ◽  
The World ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Generation Computer

AbstractThis paper holds the material presented at our keynote at the Intelligent Virtual Environments and Virtual Agents Conference, where we analyzed future trends in virtual agent and environment technologies, as applied to the fields of videogames and interactive multimedia. We begin by observing current tendencies in game development projects, both in the market and in the academia, outlining their respective strengths and weaknesses. We follow by describing the aspects of game development that will come to shape the next generation of games, and discuss the requirements for academic projects to achieve the level of quality required to be competitive in this field. In the rest of the paper we analyze the roles, importance, challenges, and research opportunities that a new generation of virtual characters and environments will bring to the world of interactive entertainment.

Technology Advancements for Whistleblowing Reporting Platforms and Employees’ Decision to Blow the Whistle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Gao
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Online Platform ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Section 302

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies to maintain platforms for employees to report questionable practices anonymously. Technological advancements have now enabled many firms to incorporate technology into their whistleblowing platforms. An online platform is often promoted as a medium that offers more anonymity than the traditional phone platform. Furthermore, developments in artificial intelligence have enhanced the creation of virtual agents, which can run 24/7/365 at a low cost. Using an experimental paradigm, this study found no significant difference in perceived anonymity between online reporting and phone reporting. The phone platform attracted more reporting intention when a live agent handled reports because witnesses feel more support when talking to a live agent over the phone. However, the witnesses were more likely to report to an online platform when a virtual agent handled the reports because witnesses believed that it is more efficient and provides greater control while reporting.

Do Prosody and Embodiment Influence the Perceived Naturalness of Conversational Agents’ Speech?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Jonathan Ehret ◽  
Andrea Bönsch ◽  
Lukas Aspöck ◽  
Christine T. Röhr ◽  
Stefan Baumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Masking Effect ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Human Voice ◽  
The One ◽  
A Minor ◽  
The Impact

For conversational agents’ speech, either all possible sentences have to be prerecorded by voice actors or the required utterances can be synthesized. While synthesizing speech is more flexible and economic in production, it also potentially reduces the perceived naturalness of the agents among others due to mistakes at various linguistic levels. In our article, we are interested in the impact of adequate and inadequate prosody, here particularly in terms of accent placement, on the perceived naturalness and aliveness of the agents. We compare (1) inadequate prosody, as generated by off-the-shelf text-to-speech (TTS) engines with synthetic output; (2) the same inadequate prosody imitated by trained human speakers; and (3) adequate prosody produced by those speakers. The speech was presented either as audio-only or by embodied, anthropomorphic agents, to investigate the potential masking effect by a simultaneous visual representation of those virtual agents. To this end, we conducted an online study with 40 participants listening to four different dialogues each presented in the three Speech levels and the two Embodiment levels. Results confirmed that adequate prosody in human speech is perceived as more natural (and the agents are perceived as more alive) than inadequate prosody in both human (2) and synthetic speech (1). Thus, it is not sufficient to just use a human voice for an agents’ speech to be perceived as natural—it is decisive whether the prosodic realisation is adequate or not. Furthermore, and surprisingly, we found no masking effect by speaker embodiment, since neither a human voice with inadequate prosody nor a synthetic voice was judged as more natural, when a virtual agent was visible compared to the audio-only condition. On the contrary, the human voice was even judged as less “alive” when accompanied by a virtual agent. In sum, our results emphasize, on the one hand, the importance of adequate prosody for perceived naturalness, especially in terms of accents being placed on important words in the phrase, while showing, on the other hand, that the embodiment of virtual agents plays a minor role in the naturalness ratings of voices.

The influence of a virtual agent on web-users' desire to visit the company

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Etemad-Sajadi
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to measure the perception and the behavioural intention of web-users who interact with a virtual agent on a web site. The author wants to measure the added value of this technology in terms of providing e-service and measure web-users' desire to have a concrete experience with a firm after experiencing its web site. Design/methodology/approach – The author integrated a virtual agent on a restaurant's web site and conducted an online survey. The author asked respondents to interact with the virtual agent and then fill in the questionnaire. The author used the expanded version of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for measuring the intention of potential customers to accept a new technology and for evaluating the characteristics of the virtual agent. In order to measure the e-service quality, the author adapted items of WebQual to restaurant industry. As the author had several latent variables, the author used partial least squares (PLS), a variance-based structural equation modeling method. Findings – Results show that the utilitarian and hedonic values of the virtual agent increase significantly the desire of potential clients to experiment the restaurant. Hedonic value seems to play a major role. This is a crucial factor for restaurant and hotel industries which can be considered as hedonic industries. Practical implications – This research can help firms to manage relationships with current and potential clients through their web site. The nature of the company plays an important role in the success of the virtual agent's implementation. Even if in the case the author applied the virtual agent to a hedonic industry, a lot of companies in other sectors can benefit from having a virtual agent, especially if the company in question is service-oriented (e.g. bank, airline, etc.). Originality/value – According to the author's knowledge, virtual agents have never been applied to restaurant/hotel industries before. The results of this research significantly advanced the understanding of the impact of virtual agents, especially in the hospitality industry. Moreover, the author applied the TAM to the characteristics of virtual agent, which is very new for the academic world. Finally, the framework the author presented in this research could be used as a basis of measurement of virtual agent effectiveness.

scholarly journals Achieving affective human–virtual agent communication by enabling virtual agents to imitate positive expressions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Numata ◽  
Hiroki Sato ◽  
Yasuhiro Asa ◽  
Takahiko Koike ◽  
Kohei Miyata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Agent Communication

scholarly journals 0373 Blacks with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Report Greater Nighttime Insomnia Symptoms than Whites, but Don’t Endorse Daytime Impairment

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A143-A143
Author(s):  
N J Williams ◽  
M Butler ◽  
J Roseus ◽  
A Barnes ◽  
J Blanc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Sleep Complaints ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Daytime Impairment ◽  
Racial Ethnic ◽  
Insomnia Complaints ◽  
Insomnia Symptoms ◽  
Insomnia Severity

Abstract Introduction Few studies have assessed insomnia severity in racial/ethnic minority patients with OSA. In recognition of the burden of OSA in blacks compared to whites, the current study sought to examine insomnia symptoms in a sample of black and white patients newly diagnosed with OSA, prior to treatment, at 3 and 6 months. Methods 94 patients newly diagnosed with OSA provided demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic status, and completed the well-known and validated Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). To assess insomnia complaints, we ascertained total ISI score, nighttime sleep complaints, and daytime impairment. Linear regression and repeated measures analysis were conducted. Results Mean age was 57.43 years ±13.55; 63.8% were men and 35% were black. Mean BMI was 32.35±7.04and 35% were diagnosed with hypertension. The mean ISI score for the total sample was 13.06±7.06. The total ISI was significantly higher in blacks than whites, respectively (M=15.00±7.17; M=12.02±6.83, p&lt;0.05) indicating moderate clinical insomnia in blacks, but not whites. In covariate-adjusted linear regression, nighttime complaints were statistically more pronounced in blacks (b=1.71, SE=0.82, p&lt;0.05) and women (b=2.05, SE=0.72, p&lt;0.01). There were no significant racial/ethnic differences with daytime impairment, but gender differences in daytime impairment remained (b=2.93, SE=1.04 p&lt;0.01). Results from repeated measures effects of race over time revealed that blacks had higher nighttime complaints across all time-points (b=2.51, SE=1.10, p&lt;0.05), but we did not observe a race-by-time interaction effect (b=-0.89, SE=0.50). Conclusion For the first time, we observed that overall ISI score and nighttime complaints are more pronounced in blacks than whites. Notably, only women endorsed complaints of daytime impairment. Findings from the study may contribute to understanding who will need treatment for relief of insomnia complaints. Support K23HL125939

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