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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2009

Open Access 01-11-2009 | Research

Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics

Authors: Richard Gordon, Natalie K Björklund, Robert J Smith, Eluemuno R Blyden

Published in: BMC Public Health | Special Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

A major deficit of all approaches to epidemic modelling to date has been the need to approximate or guess at human behaviour in disease-transmission-related contexts. Avatars are generally human-like figures in virtual computer worlds controlled by human individuals.

Methods

We introduce the concept of a "havatar", which is a (human, avatar) pairing. Evidence is mounting that this pairing behaves in virtual contexts much like the human in the pairing might behave in analogous real-world contexts.

Results

We propose that studies of havatars, in a virtual world, may give a realistic approximation of human behaviour in real-world contexts. If the virtual world approximates the real world in relevant details (geography, transportation, etc.), virtual epidemics in that world could accurately simulate real-world epidemics. Havatar modelling of epidemics therefore offers a complementary tool for tackling how best to halt epidemics, including perhaps HIV/AIDS, since sexual behaviour is a significant component of some virtual worlds, such as Second Life.

Conclusion

Havatars place the control parameters of an epidemic in the hands of each individual. By providing tools that everyone can understand and use, we could democratise epidemiology.
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Metadata
Title
Halting HIV/AIDS with avatars and havatars: a virtual world approach to modelling epidemics
Authors
Richard Gordon
Natalie K Björklund
Robert J Smith
Eluemuno R Blyden
Publication date
01-11-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue Special Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-S1-S13

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