Virtual Worlds and Health
Rashid Kashani, BA, BSc, BScOT, MScOT(C)(R)
Occupational Therapist / PhD Student
Outline
• What are Virtual
Worlds (VW s)?
• Current clinical uses,
studies
• Why use a VW at all?
• Demonstration,
further examples
• Current research in
development – client
and student focused
What Many Think When Hearing
the Term “Virtual Worlds”…
So What are Virtual Worlds?
• A virtual world is an interactive simulated environment
accessed by multiple users through an online interface.
• There are many different types of virtual worlds, however
there are six features all of them have in common:
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•
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Shared Space
Graphical User Interface
Immediacy
Interactivity
Persistence
Socialization/Community
Education in Second Life
Current Clinical Uses
Current Clinical Uses
Current Clinical Uses
Limitations and Barriers
Perceived:
• Cost
• Too hard to use
• Real is better than virtual
Real:
• Habits
• Learning of some new
skills required
• Sometimes real is better
than virtual (but
sometimes it’s the other
way around too!)
• Need for further research,
infancy of technology
So why use VWs at all?
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•
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Interactivity
Safety
Training costs
Immersion
Shift in type of
learning/experiences
• The 3D Web is
coming – remember
what happened
when…
Demonstrations
Jefferson Occupational Therapy in Second Life®UPDATE
Virtual Nursing Education in Second Life
“In-World” Demonstration on “Ability Island”
Others….
Current Research in Development
– Student / Learner Focused
Current Research in Development
– Client / Patient Focused
Current Research in Development
– Client / Patient Focused
Contact Information
• RL –
[email protected]
(780) 407 1333
Aberhart Centre 8311 (3 floor)
• SL – IM: Rashid Singh