The Army Family

Support Center

Building communities and

information for those left

behind

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

Current Configuration• Existing Information rooms• Related sub-rooms

− Military Base Specific Information Rooms− Subject Specific Information rooms

Depression

Grief

Resources

As information resources develop new information rooms appear addressing specific subjects

World Weather

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

Provides Dynamic Information• Centralizes information

• Capstone multiple web sites

• Sets up community validation of information

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

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