Video 1 shows a view of the Coach's device while a lesson is running. The video includes the author's voiceover explain- ing how a Coach would utilize the features of the platform. The lesson featured here is designed to practice differentiating and responding to different types of greetings: friendly, unfriendly, and neutral.
In addition to allowing the Coach to witness what the Learner is seeing, the Coach view provides navigation and data collec- tion buttons. If the lesson is one that uses movement, the Coach can tap a button and transport the Learner to the next location. Additionally, the Coach uses the buttons to collect data. Behind the scenes, Floreo software is keeping a record of the events, ac- cessible to the Coach via the Floreo portal. Through the portal, the Coach can review the Learner's history and measure prog- ress. The portal allows for note-taking and for creating custom lesson plans that appear at the top of the screen when signing in to the Learner's profile. Lastly, the portal houses an artificial in- telligence tool that will create a lesson plan based on a descrip- tion of lessons that are specified.
See Figure 2 and Figure 3
BENEFITS OF VR FOR SKILL ACQUISITION With lessons constructed with input from clinicians, educa- tors, and researchers, Floreo offers VR lessons covering a wide range of real-world scenarios. Floreo's mission is to provide learning experiences to both children and adults at any devel- opmental level. Generally, the current content covers social in- teractions, communication, emotional regulation, daily living skills, and executive functioning skills. The company is actively developing new lessons and features to support the neurodi- verse community. The Learner interacts with the VR environment, but the Coach sets the pace. This is particularly useful when it comes to social interaction, since, in a social interaction, there are often so many transient signals (gestures, body language, voice tone, words) happening simultaneously that they can be difficult to interpret all in real time. When the Coach can reduce the speed of the interaction, have the VR character wait for as long as necessary while the Coach explains the events, the Learner has a greater opportunity to fully comprehend what is happening. Moreover, the Learner can repeat the exact same interaction or type of in- teraction as many times as needed. The immersive nature of a VR experience often limits outside distractions, allowing the Learner to focus on the important sights and sounds inside the VR goggles. The VR event is safe and predictable. The same cannot always be said when crossing a real street. The impulse control that may be needed when in the vicinity of a swimming pool is not an issue when the VR experience only allows the Learner to enter the virtual pool after reviewing all the rules. Floreo is able to en- gineer the environment to allow for early and often success.
YouTube Video 1: CoachDeviceView - A demonstration and explanation of how the Coach's device works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=701N3rTXnKI
The Floreo Learner device may be an all-in-one headset, or it may run on an iPhone running the Floreo app. Video 2 shows the iPhone running the app with a view of what the Learner would see. The sound (background sound and character dialogue) comes from the iPhone, but the Learner does not see any of the behind-the-scenes controls that are visible on the Coach's de- vice.
YouTube Video 2: LearnerDeviceView - Once the phone is placed in the plastic VR goggles, the two images become merged in the Learner's view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NeVGVKD_6c
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