Automatic generation of interactive NPC scripts for a mixed-reality integrated learning environment

Andrew M. Yuan, Fengfeng Ke, Raymond Naglieri, Zhaihuan Dai, Mariya Pachman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The Mixed-Reality Integrated Learning Environment (MILE) developed at Florida State University is a virtual reality based, inclusive and immersive e-learning environment that promotes engaging and effective learning interactions for a diversified learner population. MILE uses a large number of interactive Non-Player Characters (NPCs) to represent diverse research-based learner archetypes and groups, and to prompt and provide feedback for in situ teaching practice. The NPC scripts in MILE are written in Linden Scripting Language (LSL), and can be quite complex, creating a significant challenge in the development and maintenance of the system. To address this challenge, we develop NPC_GEN, an automatic NPC script generation tool that takes high-level NPC descriptions as input and automatically produces LSL scripts for NPCs. In this work, we introduce NPCDL, a language that we design for NPC_GEN to give high-level descriptions of NPCs, describe how NPC_GEN translates an NPCDL description into an LSL script, and report a user study of NPC_GEN. The results of our user study indicate that with minimal training, non-technical people are able to write and modify NPCDL descriptions, which can then be used to generate LSL scripts for the NPCs: the development and maintenance of NPCs is greatly simplified with NPC_GEN.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationICETC 2018
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 10th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers
Place of PublicationNew York, NY
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages74-79
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781450365178
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event10th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers, ICETC 2018 - Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 26 Oct 201828 Oct 2018

Conference

Conference10th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers, ICETC 2018
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityTokyo
Period26/10/1828/10/18

Keywords

  • mixed reality
  • virtual reality
  • OpenSimulator
  • Linden scripting language
  • interactive scripts
  • automatic script generation

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