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Teaming With AWS To Grow Charisma Using Generative AI and Cloud Gaming

A Charisma participant plays engages with the program on their laptop.

AWS for Games Blog

Emily McKinzie

Overview

Amid a year celebrating Center for BrainHealth's 25th anniversary, the Charisma™ Virtual Social Coaching program finds itself at a turning point. Launched in 2016, Charisma utilizes video game technology to help individuals, including those with autism spectrum disorder and social anxiety, in refining social skills in a risk-free space. As demand grows for programs to assist in navigating social skills challenges and tricky real-life interactions, the center has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to begin a global expansion of the Charisma program. Charisma relies upon avatar-driven software and leverages generative AI and cloud gaming infrastructure to empower families and adults through effective social coaching, promising to enrich countless lives. The program was imagined over a decade ago at Center for BrainHealth – a nonprofit research institute, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, that is redefining how people understand and address the brain’s health and performance. Initially conceived over a decade ago, Charisma at Center for BrainHealth has pioneered the use of virtual environments for social skill development. As the program gains momentum during the center's 25th anniversary, Charisma aims to democratize access to effective social coaching, revolutionizing how individuals across the globe can connect and thrive. Read the full article in AWS for Games BlogCheck out The Think Tank young professional's network for periodic networking events and special fundraisers, like Trivia Night on April 30, in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month and in partnership with The Container Store.

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Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD

Chief Director Dee Wyly Distinguished Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

Related Information

Charisma Virtual Social Training: A Digital Health Platform and Protocol

This pilot study investigates the impact of a low immersion virtual reality (LIVR) intervention upon social skill challenges in youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or another diagnosis. Findings suggest participants experienced improved recognition of emotions, social cues and self-belief following training in the LIVR environment.