Generating nonverbal indicators of deception in virtual reality training

Old Dominion University (ODU) has been performing research in the area of training using virtual environments. The research involves both computer controlled agents and human participants taking part in a peacekeeping scenario whereby various skills-based tasks are trained and evaluated in a virtual environment. The scenario used is a checkpoint operation in a typical third world urban area. The trainee is presented with innocuous encounters until a slightly noticeable but highly important change surfaces and the trainee must react in an appropriate fashion or risk injury to himself or his teammate. Although the tasks are mainly skill-based, many are closely related to a judgment that the trainee must make. In fact, judgment-based tasks are becoming prevalent and are also far more difficult to train and not well understood. Of interest is an understanding of these additional constraints encountered that illicit emotional response in judgment-based military scenarios. This paper describes ongoing research in creating affective component behaviors used to convey cues for anger, nervousness, and deception in Operations Other than War (OOTW) training.