The Army Family Support Center

1
The Army Family Support Center
Not Endorsed by the U.S. Army

• Building communities and information for those
  left behind

2
Project Description

• The Army Family Support Center is for the
  families who remain behind when a soldier deploys
• Some family members are not near a military base
  and do not know about programs to support them
• It provides information families can use
• It provides an opportunity to build a community
  not dependent on physical location by using a
  virtual reality (VR) environment
• It is an experiment in social interaction and
  information sharing and not endorsed by the U.S.
  Army

3
Current Configuration

• Existing Information rooms
• Related sub-rooms
• Military Base Specific Information Rooms
• Subject Specific Information rooms

Base Info-Rooms
World Weather
Depression
Resources
Grief
As information resources develop new information
rooms appear addressing specific subjects
4
Technical

• Based in ActiveWorlds
• Inexpensive compared to Second Life
• World wide access and secure
• Small bandwidth requirement (works over a modem)
• Less processing power needed
• Will run as a stand alone
• Available to web users but can be password
  protected

5
Provides Dynamic Information

• Centralizes information
• Capstone multiple web sites
• Sets up community validation of information

6
Community

• Establishs an on-line community with no bounds on
  location
• A PC with access to the web anywhere in the world
• Free access to the virtual world
• Draw users with useful information
• Enables relationships
• Validate Site
• Make Friends
• Share Problems
• Solve Issues
• Get Advice
• Allows Services
• Counseling
• Assistance
• Direction

7
Summary

• The VR Based Army Family Support Center
• Uses web based content
• Establishes a community dynamic
• Reaches those who are not near military
  facilities
• Enables formal and informal support structures
• Is inexpensive to implement