OLD PEOPLE LIKE VIRTUAL REALITY, SAYS VIRTUAL REALITY COMPANY

A new Stanford University study finds that large majorities of 245 participants between 65 and 103 years old enjoyed virtual reality, that it improves both their emotions and their interactions with staff. The study is part of a larger effort to adapt VR so it can be beneficial to seniors’ health and emotional well-being and help lessen the impact dementia has on some of them. For the study, seniors chose a seven-minute virtual experience such as parachuting, riding in a tank, playing with puppies and kittens or visiting places like Paris or Egypt. The participants wore head-mounted displays, or HMDs, that gave them 360-degree views and sounds. Most said they enjoyed the experience and that it brought back memories from their lives. The study found that almost 80% of seniors reported having a more positive attitude after their VR session and almost 60% said they felt less isolated socially. Now, before you run out and buy grandma that new $3500 Apple Vision Pro, you should know that the Stanford study was performed for a company called Mynd Immersive, which creates therapeutic experiences in Virtual Reality for the elderly.
* For example, you look down, and you’re knitting a sweater, even though your actual hands are all goofed up with arthritis.
* I know how to boost their emotional well-being. How about you put on the headset, look in the mirror, and you’re 30 years old?
* The olds are absolutely part of the “Turn on, Tune in, Drop out” generation, so we’re right on schedule.
* Sure – senior centers could just let the residents play with REAL puppies and kittens, but with VR you can charge the families way higher fees.
* LSD, HMD… you’re just changing one set of initials for another.
* Set grandad in the corner, slap on the ol’ goggles and you won’t be stuck watching Antiques Roadshow all night.