Would You Install Any Software From Sony At This Point?
Netflix To Go Back Into Price War Mode?

Is Your Virtual Teacher Hot Or Not?

Culture

from the does-the-avatar-matter? dept

Wed, Nov 16th 2005 7:14pm — Mike Masnick
A researcher in Florida is trying to see if students react better to computerized learning situations if the virtual teacher is more lifelike and attractive to them. Part of the idea is to inject a bit more "soul" into these virtual teachers, and hopefully make it so students feel more interested in what they have to say. While this might seem like something of a gimmick, some of the early results are positive (though, the message seems a bit mixed). A study was conducted using female math and science students, and the ones who interacted with the agents reported more "positive beliefs" about the subject matter than those who didn't use one of these virtual agents. Of course, there are a lot of other variables that could have impacted these results, so it's hard to say much definitive about them just yet. It's also worth noting that the students said they liked a "cool" female agent as a person they'd want to be like, but still preferred a geeky male agent (complete with bow tie) as a teacher when asked to choose.
16 Comments

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  • icon
    TechNoFear (profile), 16 Nov 2005 @ 7:22pm

    Virtual Helpers

    Did any choose the animated paper-clip?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jason, 16 Nov 2005 @ 7:44pm

    No Subject Given

    somehow i think i'd have trouble learning from someone i couldnt stop thinking about in a sexual manner.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 7:58pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      That's why I dropped out of your mom's class.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 8:13pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        LOL

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Vap, 16 Nov 2005 @ 8:22pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        HAHA your mom's class

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Jason, 17 Nov 2005 @ 2:35am

        Re: No Subject Given

        well, anonymous coward, if 200+ pound fifty year old women covered in surgery scars are your thing i'd say you chances of getting an education or even focusing on a job are pretty low here in the Land of the free and flabby.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 8:15pm

    No Subject Given

    "This cool and attractive virtual agent was seen by
    young women as being a peer, but least like an
    engineer."




    I don't know - looks like a lifeless zombie to me.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 8:18pm

    No Subject Given

    Here's an idea, how bout they give up on the ghey virtual teacher thing and pump that research money into paying for a decent teacher. HAH! female engineering students! LOLZ

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Logan Haynes, 16 Nov 2005 @ 9:43pm

    No Subject Given

    Not a chance that I would install any software from Sony. Call me paranoid but it is the same reason I will never install Real Player, even if they cleaned it up it once had spyware and that is enough to deter me.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Poochie P, 16 Nov 2005 @ 10:08pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      HA, yeah ur gonna want the article just below this one logan....

      LOL...ur mom's class.....

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Green Glass Jim, 16 Nov 2005 @ 10:27pm

    No Subject Given

    Putting your kids in front of a television to substitute for parenting... Not the School system wants to do the same...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Green Glass Jim, 16 Nov 2005 @ 10:27pm

    No Subject Given

    Putting your kids in front of a television to substitute for parenting... Now the School system wants to do the same...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jp, 17 Nov 2005 @ 2:55am

    virtual boss

    In the same way, all the comapanies can opt for virtual managers ! we all love it :)

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      MindTrigger, 17 Nov 2005 @ 9:11am

      Re: virtual boss

      This might seem stupid on the surface, but if you play video games, and communicate with people who play video games, you will quickly learn that men and boys get a kick out of attractive female computer characters. Lara Croft is probably the most notorious of them all. They should just license her likeness.. lol

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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