Computerized medical training system

Abstract

A method of medical training includes presenting a user with a medical scenario within a medical simulation in which the user plays a physician. The medical scenario includes an interaction between the user and a patient. Performance data corresponding to the user is identified. The identified performance data is based at least in part on an action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient. The user is evaluated based at least in part on the identified performance data to determine whether the user has achieved a training goal within the medical simulation. The training goal is intended to improve a medical skill of the user.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of interfacing with a computer system having a display device, the method comprising:
 establishing a computer-controlled avatar within the computer system, wherein the computer-controlled avatar has a human appearance and is programmed to exhibit emotional behavior and cognitive behavior emulating a human in response to a user input received via an input device operably coupled to the computer, wherein the input device includes an audio input device to capture voice input and an imaging input device to capture body language input;   presenting the computer-controlled avatar to the user via the display device;   capturing the user input using the input device, wherein the user's input comprises a plurality of emotional components and a plurality of cognitive components; and   presenting a response to the user input via the avatar, wherein the response to the user input comprises a plurality of emotional components and a plurality of cognitive components.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the user input comprises nonverbal input. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the nonverbal input comprises a psychometric input. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the nonverbal input comprises a body language input. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the body language input comprises a facial expression. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the facial expression comprises at least one of eye movement and eye contact. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the user input comprises at least one element of speech prosody. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the user input comprise at least one voice analysis input captured using the audio input device. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one voice analysis input comprises one or more of a user stress level, a user nervousness level, and a user tone of voice. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the user input comprises a timing of an interaction between the user and the avatar. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the response to the user input comprises a tone of voice in which the avatar speaks. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emotional components and the plurality of cognitive components of the response to the user input comprises body language exhibited by the avatar. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the body language exhibited by the avatar comprises at least one of eye movement and eye contact. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 defining a user goal; and   evaluating the user input against the user goal.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising iteratively repeating the steps of capturing the user input using the input device, evaluating the user input against the user goal, and presenting a response to the user input via the avatar until the user achieves the user goal. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the response to the user input comprises feedback regarding a relationship between the user input and the user goal. 
     
     
         18 . A user interface for a computer system, comprising:
 a scenario processor configured to present a computer-controlled avatar, wherein the computer-controlled avatar has a human appearance and is programmed to respond to a user input with emotional behavior and cognitive behavior emulating a human;   a capture processor in operable communication with the scenario processor and configured to capture the user input; and   an input device operably coupled to the capture processor, wherein the input device includes an audio input device to capture voice input and an imaging input device to capture body language input,   wherein the user input comprises a plurality of emotional components and a plurality of cognitive components, and   wherein the responds to the user input comprises a plurality of emotional components and a plurality of cognitive components.   
     
     
         19 . The user interface according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a goal processor configured to generate a user goal; and   an assessment processor in operable communication with the goal processor and the capture processor, wherein the assessment processor is configured to assess the user input against the user goal.