Gunslinger

This training system, known as Gunslinger, is a virtual reality project aimed not at attacking PTSD, but rather at helping service members prepare to deal with stressful combat situations where they will have to act very quickly -- and use their wits and negotiating skills -- to survive.

Though in this iteration at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) is set up in a Wild West saloon scenario, it can also be run to look like a small venue in Afghanistan.

The idea is that a service member walks into the dimly-lit room and proceeds to carry on a conversation with a bartender -- a virtual agent programmed to respond to spoken cues. At some point, a "bad guy" arrives intent on taking over the situation, and the service member must figure out how to get the drop on the attacker. Otherwise, it will go badly.

Here, we see a researcher facing off with the bad guy, known as Rio Laine.