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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Gordon
Richard
R
Department of Radiology, University of Manitoba, GA216, HSC, 820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada. gordonr@cc.umanitoba.ca
Björklund
Natalie K
NK
Smith
Robert J
RJ
Blyden
Eluemuno R
ER
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013269:Stochastic Processes