Steve : An Animated Pedagogical Agent for Procedural Training

Virtual reality can broaden the types of interaction between students and computer tutors. As in conventional simulation-based training, the computer can watch students practice tasks, responding to questions and ooering advice. However, immersive virtual environments also allow the computer tutor to physically inhabit the virtual world with the student. Unlike previous, disembodied computer tutors, such a \pedagogical agent" can physically collaborate with students, enabling new types of interaction. To illustrate the possibilities, this paper describes Steve, a pedagogical agent for virtual environments that helps students learn procedural tasks. After providing an overview of Steve's capabilities, the paper focuses on the beneets and challenges of physically representing Steve in the virtual environment.