Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A major deficit of all approaches to epidemic modelling to date has been the need to approximate or guess at human behaviour in disease-transmission-related contexts. Avatars are generally human-like figures in virtual computer world...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2009-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| _version_ | 1819029921146601472 |
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| author | Smith? Robert J Björklund Natalie K Gordon Richard Blyden Eluemuno R |
| author_facet | Smith? Robert J Björklund Natalie K Gordon Richard Blyden Eluemuno R |
| author_sort | Smith? Robert J |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A major deficit of all approaches to epidemic modelling to date has been the need to approximate or guess at human behaviour in disease-transmission-related contexts. Avatars are generally human-like figures in virtual computer worlds controlled by human individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We introduce the concept of a "havatar", which is a (human, avatar) pairing. Evidence is mounting that this pairing behaves in virtual contexts much like the human in the pairing might behave in analogous real-world contexts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We propose that studies of havatars, in a virtual world, may give a realistic approximation of human behaviour in real-world contexts. If the virtual world approximates the real world in relevant details (geography, transportation, etc.), virtual epidemics in that world could accurately simulate real-world epidemics. Havatar modelling of epidemics therefore offers a complementary tool for tackling how best to halt epidemics, including perhaps HIV/AIDS, since sexual behaviour is a significant component of some virtual worlds, such as Second Life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Havatars place the control parameters of an epidemic in the hands of each individual. By providing tools that everyone can understand and use, we could democratise epidemiology.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:21:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-286388f092ff4e1ea420b082ddf95bdb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:21:56Z |
| publishDate | 2009-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-286388f092ff4e1ea420b082ddf95bdb2022-12-21T19:13:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582009-11-019Suppl 1S1310.1186/1471-2458-9-S1-S13Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemicsSmith? Robert JBjörklund Natalie KGordon RichardBlyden Eluemuno R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A major deficit of all approaches to epidemic modelling to date has been the need to approximate or guess at human behaviour in disease-transmission-related contexts. Avatars are generally human-like figures in virtual computer worlds controlled by human individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We introduce the concept of a "havatar", which is a (human, avatar) pairing. Evidence is mounting that this pairing behaves in virtual contexts much like the human in the pairing might behave in analogous real-world contexts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We propose that studies of havatars, in a virtual world, may give a realistic approximation of human behaviour in real-world contexts. If the virtual world approximates the real world in relevant details (geography, transportation, etc.), virtual epidemics in that world could accurately simulate real-world epidemics. Havatar modelling of epidemics therefore offers a complementary tool for tackling how best to halt epidemics, including perhaps HIV/AIDS, since sexual behaviour is a significant component of some virtual worlds, such as Second Life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Havatars place the control parameters of an epidemic in the hands of each individual. By providing tools that everyone can understand and use, we could democratise epidemiology.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Smith? Robert J Björklund Natalie K Gordon Richard Blyden Eluemuno R Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics BMC Public Health |
| title | Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
| title_full | Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
| title_fullStr | Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
| title_short | Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
| title_sort | halting hiv aids with avatars and havatars a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics |
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