Abstract: Systems and methods of providing remote, real-time computer-facilitated instruction, interaction, testing, and assessment to a plurality of users or participants. The system includes a system (e.g., a server) for shaping and directing a learning or decision-making environment. The shaping/directing system selectively provides content to users based on responses from the users to create a user-directed and generated learning or decision-making experience. The users connect to the shaping/directing system through a plurality of respective, user-controlled client devices. Each respective client device includes an input device (e.g., a pointing device) and an output device (e.g., a display). The output device communicates portions of the content, including decision points, to the respective user. The input device receives responses from the respective user. The responses reply to the respective decision points.

Abstract: A strain-hardened interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel is provided. The interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel is based on two different networks. The first network is a non-silicone network of preformed hydrophilic non-ionic telechelic macromonomers chemically cross-linked by polymerization of its end-groups. The second network is a non-silicone network of ionizable monomers. The second network has been polymerized and chemically cross-linked in the presence of the first network and has formed physical cross-links with the first network. An aqueous salt solution having a neutral pH is used to ionize and swell the second network in the interpenetrating polymer network. The swelling of the second network is constrained by the first network, and this constraining effect results in an increase in effective physical cross-links within the interpenetrating polymer network, and, in turn, an increase its elastic modulus.