Key Points:
- The University of Kansas (KU) has received a $2.5 million grant to develop a new virtual reality system, iKNOW, to help students with disabilities, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder, learn and practice social skills.
- iKNOW combines virtual reality with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide an extended reality (XR) experience, allowing students to interact with avatars in a more natural and immersive environment.
- The system will include large language models, natural language processing, and video responses to enhance user interactions and provide real-time feedback.
- iKNOW will also include a real-time student progress monitoring system, providing information on student performance, strengths, and areas of improvement.
How it Works:
- The system, developed by KU’s School of Education & Human Sciences, is an extension of the existing Virtual reality Opportunity to Integrate Social Skills (VOISS) system.
- VOISS has been successful in helping students with disabilities improve their social skills, but iKNOW aims to take it to the next level by incorporating AI and XR technologies.
- The new system will include 140 unique learning scenarios and 183 social skills to teach, allowing students to practice and learn in a variety of settings, such as classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias.
Benefits:
- iKNOW will provide a more natural and immersive experience for students, allowing them to interact with avatars in a more realistic and engaging way.
- The system will help students develop essential social emotional skills, such as receptive and expressive communication, and improve their ability to interact with others in real-world settings.
- iKNOW will also provide teachers and families with valuable insights into student progress, allowing for more targeted support and intervention.
Conclusion:
The development of iKNOW is an exciting step forward in the field of special education, and has the potential to revolutionize the way students with disabilities learn and practice social skills. By combining virtual reality with artificial intelligence, the system will provide a more immersive and engaging experience, allowing students to develop essential social emotional skills and improve their ability to interact with others in real-world settings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is iKNOW?
A: iKNOW is a new virtual reality system developed by the University of Kansas to help students with disabilities learn and practice social skills.
Q: What is the goal of iKNOW?
A: The goal of iKNOW is to provide a more natural and immersive experience for students with disabilities, allowing them to develop essential social emotional skills and improve their ability to interact with others in real-world settings.
Q: How does iKNOW work?
A: iKNOW combines virtual reality with artificial intelligence to provide an extended reality (XR) experience, allowing students to interact with avatars in a more natural and engaging way.
Q: What are the benefits of iKNOW?
A: iKNOW will provide a more natural and immersive experience for students, allowing them to develop essential social emotional skills, improve their ability to interact with others, and provide valuable insights for teachers and families.
