Pandemic influenza simulation in second life

• Main Author: Hu, Hui Juan.
• Other Authors: Miao Chun Yan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Computer science and engineering::Information systems::Information systems applications
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40039
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Pandemic Influenza Simulation in Second Life is game-like 3D simulation that demonstrates real life influenza pandemic. It is developed using the facilities and multi-user platform provided by Second Life. This simulation will simulates series of events and activities which may occur in real life influenza pandemic outbreak thus giving the participants of the simulation an exciting experience on virus spreading, pandemic infections and precaution measures to be taken in virtual world without any physical costs inflicted. The simulation was implemented in Linden Scripting Language, a programming language used by residents in Second Life virtual world. Several subsystems such as Control Center, Condition Tokens, Doctors, Mask, Non-playable characters (NPC) and Quarantine Region were created to provide services within the simulation. Control Center is responsible for synchronizing all the other subsystems and to allow administrator to influence the behavior of the simulation by having the rights to change simulation parameter. Condition token, which serves as an indicator for player’s health status, is responsible for virus spreading among the other players. Doctor provides health care services to the players in the simulation by diagnosing the patients and offering vaccine injection. The Doctor is also responsible for polling the health status of the NPC in regular interval and keeps track of pandemic cases in NPC. Mask, which can be obtained from Doctor, acts as a protection tool to pandemic infection. NPC are stationary residents in the simulation that also have virus spreading and pandemic infection capabilities. Quarantine Region is an area where suspected cases of pandemic infection are asked to serve their quarantine period there. A Fuzzy Cognitive Map was also developed to determine individual susceptibility to flu of each player, making the simulation more dynamic and close to real life pandemic influenza. The objective of this project is to create a user-friendly simulation environment that is easy to use yet with comprehensive and realistic experience on pandemic influenza outbreak for players.