A Software Architecture for Simulated Human-Human Conversation with User Intervention

We present the high-level design of a prototype AIbased interactive system that simulates conversation between two animated virtual characters. The conversational choices made by each character are influenced by dynamic models of each virtual participant´s mental state. Also, the choices made by one character, the user´s Conversational Avatar, are at certain times under user control. This style of simulated conversation with user intervention is applicable to a range of potential applications in education and entertainment. Our current application is a training system for coaching caregivers on having social conversations with persons with Alzheimer´s Disease.