Virtual reality game could help early detection of schizophrenia
From: Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) -
  02/17/2017

EU-funding under the AlterEgo project has helped researchers develop a
‘mirror game’ using artificial intelligence that could provide an affordable,
non-invasive way to diagnose and monitor schizophrenia.

Researchers working on the European Union's AlterEgo project have developed
artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can interact with patients
suffering from disorders such as schizophrenia. The researchers say the AI
technology could provide a reliable, adaptable, and affordable way of
diagnosing, monitoring, and treating schizophrenic patients. AlterEgo is a
"mirror game" in which patients mimic a computer avatar. The game can detect
schizophrenia patients accurately by identifying and analyzing user
impairments in movement and social interaction. AlterEgo employed
statistical-learning techniques to analyze the data, using multiple features
and applying a majority vote rule. The researchers found the program
distinguished between schizophrenia patients and control groups with
93-percent accuracy and 100-percent specificity. The mirror test is more
effective than other motor-assessment tools because it is quicker, less
expensive, and less invasive. The researchers suggest the gamification of the
task may make AlterEgo a useful diagnostic tool for children.

Read the entire article at:
http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/126834_en.html

Links:
AlterEgo (with video 3:37)
http://www.euromov.eu/alterego

Enhancing Social Interaction with an AlterEgo Artificial Agent
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/106962_en.html

Using avatars and robots to treat social disorders
http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/124883_en.html