Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology
Although virtual reality (VR) technology has been implemented as a tool to address the health issues of older adults, its applicability to social connectedness is underrepresented in the literature, and less is known about its efficacy in this area in contributing to overall wellness and well-being...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-09-01
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Series: | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/1/4/23 |
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author | Sally Hughes Kathryn Warren-Norton Pat Spadafora Lia E. Tsotsos |
author_facet | Sally Hughes Kathryn Warren-Norton Pat Spadafora Lia E. Tsotsos |
author_sort | Sally Hughes |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Although virtual reality (VR) technology has been implemented as a tool to address the health issues of older adults, its applicability to social connectedness is underrepresented in the literature, and less is known about its efficacy in this area in contributing to overall wellness and well-being in later life. Expanding the VR possibilities beyond traditional entertainment purposes holds considerable potential for the older adult market. Technological tools have been employed in the elder health care field for many years, and cutting-edge developments such as virtual and augmented reality have begun to be used to facilitate optimal wellness in aging. Such technological advances have the potential to significantly impact one of the most important issues that older people face: social isolation and loneliness. This paper will serve as an introductory exploration of what is currently known about the use of virtual reality technology with an older cohort. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:10:36Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-b77cb03225a84c2d95a4b062842003c5 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2414-4088 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:10:36Z |
publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
spelling | doaj.art-b77cb03225a84c2d95a4b062842003c52022-12-22T03:11:06ZengMDPI AGMultimodal Technologies and Interaction2414-40882017-09-01142310.3390/mti1040023mti1040023Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality TechnologySally Hughes0Kathryn Warren-Norton1Pat Spadafora2Lia E. Tsotsos3Centre for Elder Research, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, CanadaCentre for Elder Research, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, CanadaCentre for Elder Research, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, CanadaCentre for Elder Research, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, CanadaAlthough virtual reality (VR) technology has been implemented as a tool to address the health issues of older adults, its applicability to social connectedness is underrepresented in the literature, and less is known about its efficacy in this area in contributing to overall wellness and well-being in later life. Expanding the VR possibilities beyond traditional entertainment purposes holds considerable potential for the older adult market. Technological tools have been employed in the elder health care field for many years, and cutting-edge developments such as virtual and augmented reality have begun to be used to facilitate optimal wellness in aging. Such technological advances have the potential to significantly impact one of the most important issues that older people face: social isolation and loneliness. This paper will serve as an introductory exploration of what is currently known about the use of virtual reality technology with an older cohort.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/1/4/23older adultsvirtual realitysocial isolationwellnesshealthy aging |
spellingShingle | Sally Hughes Kathryn Warren-Norton Pat Spadafora Lia E. Tsotsos Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology Multimodal Technologies and Interaction older adults virtual reality social isolation wellness healthy aging |
title | Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology |
title_full | Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology |
title_fullStr | Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology |
title_full_unstemmed | Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology |
title_short | Supporting Optimal Aging through the Innovative Use of Virtual Reality Technology |
title_sort | supporting optimal aging through the innovative use of virtual reality technology |
topic | older adults virtual reality social isolation wellness healthy aging |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/1/4/23 |
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