The issue of domestic violence (DV) continues to represent a significant challenge across Europe, with adverse consequences for both individuals and communities. In response to this situation, the ISEDA project (Innovative Solutions to Eliminate Domestic Abuse), coordinated by Cologne Game Lab from the TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences, has been launched with the objective of combating and eliminating domestic violence through the use of innovative tools and the establishment of strong European partnerships. It unites fifteen partners from nine countries and is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program.
A significant innovation of the ISEDA project is the creation of an autonomous, standalone simulation product. The training tool has been primarily designed for use by police officers, who frequently constitute the first responders in situations of domestic violence. The simulation is intuitive and accessible to all, requiring no prior experience with digital games; it can be used even by those unfamiliar with gaming environments.
The three-person CGL-research team, comprising Chad Comeau (Team Lead & Game Design), Kendys Ortega (3D Art) and Sergey Laas (Programming), encountered a number of challenges during the development phase. These included the creation of highly realistic avatars of victims, the development of dialogue and the design of animations. Guided by CGL’s Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Guardiola, the team devised three distinct scenarios, each depicted by five actresses from the various participating countries. Throughout this process, they developed an innovative approach. Their solutions included the utilisation of MetaHuman Animator, the establishment of a cost-effective facial motion capture pipeline, and the creation of an automation tool to process the footage. All tools developed for this project are open source.
While police officers are the primary target group, social workers—who play a crucial role in supporting victims and collaborating with law enforcement—could also benefit from this tool. The simulation facilitates a more nuanced comprehension of the intricacies inherent to domestic violence cases, thereby enhancing the efficacy of intervention strategies.
Alongside the simulation, the project includes an innovative chat-bot designed to offer support to victims of domestic violence. This chat-bot provides vital information, connects victims with the appropriate authorities, and serves to calm tense situations. With the consent of the victim, it can also collect evidence that could be used in a legal context, thereby streamlining the legal process.
ISEDA is dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence through comprehensive training for police officers, educational programs for young people designed to challenge harmful stereotypes, and awareness campaigns that engage victims and promote prevention.
For more information about the ISEDA project and its ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence, visit the official project page on the European Commission’s CORDIS website: ISEDA Project Page. (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101073922) or the CGL project page.