17 October 2008: IVIR Inc. begins research and development on “THE APPLICATION OF MODELING AND SIMULATION TO THE BEHAVIORAL DEFICIT OF AUTISM, PARTICULARLY VIRTUAL SELF AND PEER INTERACTION”. Current research indicates that certain behavioral experiences appear to be able to mitigate the effects of autism. The neuro-networks and associated transmitters seem to literally rewire themselves to bypass the deficient behavioral functionality as an adjustment or coping mechanism with repeated exposure to selected behavioral patterns. If true, then controlled environmental experiences coupled with calculated experiential exposure might be able to allow treatment, behavioral modification, and learning to occur in normal environments. IVIR Inc. proposes a project designed to re-purpose technology and simulation content developed for the U.S. military that combines 3D video game technology with the constructivist principles of coaching, scaffolding and deliberate practice to support virtual social skills training in an effort to diminish the impact of social impairments on the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. IVIR Inc. CEO, Catherine Strayhorn announced that “This effort reflects the passion of IVIR’s dedication to help alleviate the symptoms of a disorder which causes so much heart-break to families throughout the world”.
1 September 2008: IVIR Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Catherine Strayhorn as Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Strayhorn is the former Director of Government Systems for Medical Education Technologies Inc. (METI) where she managed the military sales group and various government medical simulation programs. She also served as the proposal team chief and captures manager for various major bids and proposals. Ms. Strayhorn is an aerospace engineer with over twenty years of experience in systems, projects, and industrial engineering. She is also an ISO 90000 auditor and a certified program manager. As CEO, she will be responsible for moving the company forward in independent test and evaluation, research and development, program management, and advanced productization. IVIR Inc. Founder Emily Anton stated, ‘Catherine Strayhorn brings a level of professionalism and experience to IVIR Inc. that will be invaluable for its future. Her integrity and enthusiasm exactly fit the IVIR corporate culture.’
20 August 2008: The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Simulation and Training Technology Center awarded ECS and it’s partner IVIR Inc. a contract to provide the Independent Test and Evaluation of the Stand Alone Patient Simulator (SAPS). This independent test and evaluation represents the first time a mannequin based patient simulator will go through the verification, validation and accreditation (VV&A) process. The SAPS independent testing will be performed at selected joint military locations. IVIR Inc. will design the Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), formulate the Critical Operational Issues and Criteria (COIC), establish the Measures of Performance (MOP), and Effectiveness (MOE), and manage the data collection, retrieval and fusion, and data analysis.
12 August 2008: IVIR Inc. introduced a White Paper titled “ADVANCING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIVE TISSUE REPLACEMENT USING MODELING AND SIMULATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR MILITARY TRAUMA TRAINING” at the Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care (ATACCC) conference, August 2008. “Since modeling and simulation technology has achieved a level of fidelity that makes live tissue replacement more viable to achieve, we propose to advance the research and development of live tissue replacement for military medical trauma training,” stated John J. Anton, IVIR’s Principal Investigator for research. To this end IVIR Inc. has entered into collaboration with Animal Replacement Technologies (ART) and ECS with the ultimate goal of creating a simulated, animated, human anatomy replicant for device and protocol test and evaluation and medical anatomy and physiology training. Using science-based algorithms and newly created water and fiber soluble materials, the team will create a simulated anatomical fidelity heretofore unseen. Animal use in military trauma training is becoming increasingly controversial due to ethical, regulatory and cost issues therefore, using validated modeling and simulation devices instead of live tissue is more efficient, effective, and uses fewer resources. “We are totally committed to minimizing the use of live tissue in medical trauma training,” Anton said.
11 June 2008: The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Simulation and Training Technology Center (RDECOM – STTC) awarded Engineering and Computer simulations (ECS) and it’s partner IVIR Inc., a research and development contract that will populate an existing computer based educational assessment tool kit, called Simulations for Integrated Learning Environments (SIMILETM), with technical medical knowledge area skills in order to develop a Medical Pre/Post Test Knowledge Generation System. This effort is for the United States Army Medical Simulation Training Centers(MSTCs) recently fielded by the Program Executive Office for Simulation Training and Instrumentation (PEOSTRI). IVIR Inc. will create the educational architecture for the effort and populate the tool set which will facilitate insertion of additional modules for other elements to include applied medical skills, or tactical skills, as well as full integration of any simulation or after action review system.
2 June 2008: Mr. Jay Anton, Principal Investigator for Information Visualization and Innovative Research Inc. (IVIR Inc.) participated in a panel ‘Transitioning Technology to Training and Treatment’, at the first annual Medical Technology, Training and Treatment (MT3) Conference held in June at the Coronado Springs resort in Orlando Florida. The four-member panel addressed the subject of transitioning technology into medicine for both training and treatment to include the challenges of obtaining developmental funding and productization.
9 May 2008: Information Visualization and Innovative Research Inc. (IVIR Inc.) announces a teaming partnership with Engineering and Computer Simulations (ECS) of Orlando, Florida, an industry leader in advanced learning technology products and services to include computer generated imagery, game technology, and graphics engines. IVIR Inc. and ECS will collaborate in the areas of medical modeling and simulation for research and product development. The IVIR Inc. team will be the medical educational content provider for ECS.
1 May 2008: IVIR Inc. is proud to announce the signing of a contract agreement with Medical Education Technologies Inc. (METI), the world’s leader in patient simulation and medical education. IVIR Inc. will provide METI operational research and system analysis services in support of strategic business development, and system engineering.