Automated Scenario Generation: Coupling planning techniques with smart objects

Ferdinandus, G.R.; Peeters, M.M.M.; van den Bosch, K.; Meyer, J.J.C.

doi:10.5220/0004354600760081

Automated Scenario Generation: Coupling planning techniques with smart objects

Title

Automated Scenario Generation: Coupling planning techniques with smart objects

Author

Ferdinandus, G.R.
Peeters, M.M.M.
van den Bosch, K.
Meyer, J.J.C.

Publication year

2013

Abstract

Serious games allow for adaptive and personalised forms of training; the nature and timing of learning activities can be tailored to the trainee’s needs and interests. Autonomous game-based training requires for the automatic selection of appropriate exercises for an individual trainee. This paper presents a framework for an automated scenario generation system. The underlying notion is that a learning experience is defined by the objects and agents that inhabit the training environment. Our system uses automated planning to assess the behaviour required to achieve the (personalised) training objective. It then generates a scenario by selecting semantically annotated (or 'smart') objects and by assigning goals to the virtual characters. The resulting situations trigger the trainee to execute the desired behaviour. To test the framework, a prototype has been developed to train the First Aid treatment of burns. Experienced instructors evaluated scenarios written by three types of authors: the prototype, first-aid experts, and laymen. The prototype produced scenarios that were at least as good as laymen scenarios. First-aid experts seemed the best scenario writers, although differences were not significant. It is concluded that combining automated planning, smart objects, and virtual agent behaviour, is a promising approach to automated scenario generation.

Subject

Human
TPI - Training & Performance Innovations
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Information Society
Automated Scenario Generation
Adaptive Educational Games
Serious Games
Scenario-based Training
Automatic selection
Educational game
Game-based trainings
Learning experiences
Planning techniques
Scenario generation
Scenario-based training
Serious games
Learning systems
Automation