Virtual Swords to Ploughshares
Duke-developed simulation game looks to train a new generation of peacemakers
By Cara Bonnett
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
"Durham, NC -- In
the basement of Perkins Library, representatives from 16 international
agencies struggle to coordinate a massive humanitarian relief effort in
the aftermath of a hurricane that has devastated Central America.
Wearing
headsets and connected via laptops, these 16 students in Natalia
Mirovitskaya’s public policy class are role-playing a scenario using “Virtual Peace” a computer simulation developed by Duke researchers, in collaboration with Virtual Heroes, a Research Triangle Park-based developer known for its work on the military training simulation “America’s Army.”
The
simulation repurposes the technology used in video games such as “World
of Warcraft” to help train the next generation of international
negotiators."
Continued...