Making virtual baby alive

We have designed and implemented a prototype virtual environment for medical training in neonatal resuscitation. The central element of this environment is the dynamic virtual model (avatar) of a new-born child, built using VRML and Java. Physiological variables relevant for training were chosen to be represented through the avatar: heart rate, respiration rate, skin colour and activity level (such as movement and crying). Implementation mechanisms of presenting these vital signs on the virtual baby with animation and sound are described in this paper. We are using time-dependent description of basic events to specify scenarios according to which the condition of a baby is changing. Sets of scenarios are then coupled to actions performed by a student during training. Such approach for all relevant variables had seemed good at first, but it soon became impractical and hard to follow due to separate treatment of variables. Therefore an attempt to create a simplified, easier controllable model with interdependent variables is being under development. This paper reports on current implementation as well as on the explored ideas for the future.