The main mission of this study is to ascertain the benefits of VR for the elderly. Will innovative technologies be able to influence their lives, make them happier, more emotional, and progressive? Several residents of the John Knox Village retirement home tested virtual technology products and visited the International Space Station (virtual of course). This is what formed the basis of research on how VR can influence the emotional background of people and this technology can improve a person's mood. Famous researchers began to study the material obtained.
Having dressed in all the necessary gadgets for loading into the world of virtual reality, four pensioners were able to feel like real astronauts exploring the vastness of space. They felt weightless and were able to admire the stunning views. Also, the system offers travel to all corners of the world, walks, and extreme entertainment.
Scientists and experts will study and observe 1200 nursing home residents, who in turn will comprehend the world of VR. Professionals will try to understand whether virtual technologies can positively affect the state of the body, the emotional component, and the general condition of an elderly person. Soon, scientists will start working on healthy communities of people across America.
The entire VR system is built on the fact that it can track a person's movements and control what he sees and feels. Today, virtual reality allows you to completely plunge into another reality, stroll along the streets of Rome or Berlin. If a person goes to one point and then turns to another, the picture smoothly follows his movements, creating a feeling of the complete presence of the second eye. If a person hears music in the virtual world and approaches the source of the melody, the sound is amplified, creating an even more realistic picture.
When four elderly people made their virtual voyage to the space station, one of the participants in the experiment, 77-year-old Anne Selby, said that she was a little seasick. After all, the picture unfolding in front of her and the sensations were very realistic. Despite this, the woman did not stop the study and was able to cope with mild malaise.
The manager of MyndVR Corporation, which provided the necessary equipment for the study, warned that all candidates for the experiment will be pre-screened for a suitable state of mental and physical health. Also, the subjects have a special button for canceling all actions if they cannot tolerate unexpected changes that VR represents. Residents of John Knox are seniors, singles or couples, who are cared for by qualified personnel.