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