Daniel Crago’s Post

Virtual reality is starting to be used in many different settings. Games, learning, healthcare, tourism and now possibly a positive experience for older people. Seventeen seniors centers in the United States just completed a study with Stanford University and the use of virtual reality. In the study, seniors would spend short bursts of time in virtual reality. The results were quite astounding. After using virtual reality, the seniors reported; ✔ 79.2% felt more positive ✔ 57.9% felt less isolated ✔ 83% said it was beneficial to their relationship with caregivers Personally, I think virtual reality has some amazing future potential for many aspects of our lives at any age. Especially once the googles and set up become easy for anyone to establish. It's great to know that virtual reality may also help to eliminate feelings of isolation and help older people to feel more positive. That is what we hope all technology is able to do. Make our lives better. But like all technology, we have to remember it is still technology. It is not meant to replace human interactions and connections. So just like we shouldn't place our children in front of a television or online games all day, virtual reality is no different and we need to remember this for anyone at any age. Human contact should always reign supreme. #babyboomers #boomers #retirement #aging #longevity #technology #virtualreality #commentary https://lnkd.in/eN_hyayW

Want to help keep your senior loved ones safe, entertained and maintaining their independence? Get them a pair of AR Meta smart glasses. We DO because we show seniors how to take pics, shoot videos of their families and grandkids, watch streaming movies and sports and so much more. Gives the user self-confidence, information and daily ease of use AR eyeglasses can greatly improve seniors' quality of life in several ways: 1. **Improved Navigation**: Real-time directions help seniors safely navigate both indoors and outdoors, reducing reliance on others. 2. **Enhanced Social Interaction**: AR enables seamless video calls and message displays, helping seniors stay connected and reducing isolation. 3. **Access to Information**: Seniors can instantly view health data, news, or reminders without needing other devices, aiding in health management. 4. **Daily Task Assistance**: AR can guide seniors through tasks like cooking or taking medication, promoting independence and safety. 5. **Entertainment**: Interactive games and virtual experiences engage seniors cognitively, offering meaningful activities. Overall, AR glasses increase independence, improve social and cognitive engagement, and create a safer living environment for seniors.

These 3 examples highlight just a glimpse of what AR can offer for seniors, and the possibilities continue to expand. 🚀 As AR tech becomes more user-friendly, we anticipate further advantages in supporting independent living, cognitive well-being, and fostering social connections among seniors. #AR #XR #immersivetech #MixedReality

Recently, I had a chance to attend Jim Hogan's presentation on neurodiversity, creativity and complexity. He talked about the lesser-known human senses and how a deficiency in each leads to a disability that's important to consider when designing our products, services and even our society in general. This made me thinking 🤔😊 What if we created a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality(AR) application that simulates the experience of being deaf, unable to speak, or having a deficiency in some of the senses such as proprioception or vestibular sense? It would be a simulation (approximation) of different mixtures of abilities. The empathy tool for designers, helping them to experience "first-hand" how it feels to be deaf, unable to speak, or lacking some of the other senses. You can learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/g9ryE48m Now, technical feasibility issues aside, what do you think about such a tool? 🤔 Would it help us, designers and product owners, with better understanding (and feeling) why it is important to focus on building more accessible products and services? Would it help us to better empathise with those who experience the world in different ways? What do you think? Let me know your thoughts. As always, I’m happy to learn from wiser folks out there and discuss further.😇👏🏼 Update: Meanwhile, since I started discussing my idea with great minds of design, most notably Caesar, I learned that the idea of simulation of disabilities isn’t new and it has been around for quite some time. Several companies and organisations (including IDEO, Microsoft, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Empathy FX etc .. ) focus on simulating sensory impairments to improve the design of products and environments. So I’m gonna be exploring those further in upcoming days … stay tuned 🧑🏻💻🎉

Do you advocate for a therapeutic approach when working with vulnerable children and young people? 👪 Many of our partners promote PACE and therapeutic practice across their service, yet some carers and professionals struggle to effectively model these techniques. In Cornerstone’s recent webinar, we showcased 2D versions of our immersive experiences to highlight the differences between a therapeutic approach and other methods when working with vulnerable children. Our attendees found that experiencing these scenarios from the child's perspective offers exceptional insight into effective implementation and the significant impact it can have. One attendee shared: "Demonstrating PACE and therapeutic responses is invaluable because it’s often challenging to show some carers how to apply them.” Another commented: “Many new foster carers believe that traditional parenting methods will suffice. This [Cornerstone VR] clearly illustrates the necessity for alternative parenting styles and their importance.” The Cornerstone VR programme includes several immersive scenarios, in both home and educational settings, allowing users to see these different styles from the viewpoint of the child. Interested in how this approach can help support your organisation? Find out more: https://buff.ly/3RcK9xy Get in touch: 📧 hello@antser.com | ☎️ 0808 1756 414

How do you summarize a year? What deserves mention? So much has happened, this year filled with incredible people and deeply moving moments. 2024 has been a year of preparation—a year of laying foundations and paving the way for transformative change. And I’ve had the priviledge of: Educating the staff at 14 daily activity centers, 10 living centers, and 9 centers for children and youth, equipping them to fully integrate VR into their daily routines. Empowering physiotherapists with VR tools, achieving remarkable results in therapy and rehabilitation. One client lost 50 kilos! Laying the groundwork for The Whole Child, The Whole Day, our research project exploring VR’s calming effects on children and youth with intellectual disabilities. This initiative will not only deepen understanding but also produce educational resources to share our methods with other cities and organizations. Preparing for the VR in Mental Health Conference - Into the Real, set to take place in Helsingborg in June 2025. I’m so proud of our world leading keynotes and my amazing collaborators! www.vrinmentalhealth.com Through it all, I’ve had the privilege of meeting hundreds of extraordinary individuals—both staff and participants—each contributing to this journey. One moment lingers in my heart: a client with schizophrenia who softly shared, "When I do VR, the voices in my head go quiet." That simple yet profound statement is why I do this work. To create meaningful change for those whose lives often feel overlooked. 2024 was only the beginning. Visual description: A golden, glowing Christmas star #VR #VRHelsingborg #VRMentalHealth #MentalHealth #LearningDisabeled #LSS #VRForAll #InclusionMatters

There's still time to vote for all the SXSW accessibility panels! Let's show Hugh Forrest and the SXSW team that accessibility is important and needs all these sessions. Public voting counts for 30% of the score! Voting is open until August 18. Thanks to Sharron Rush for pulling most of these together. Let me know if I missed a session and I'll add it! The Power of Personalized XR: Accessibility Reimagined Olga V. Ivanova, Mark Steelman, Jeffrey Pohlman, and me https://lnkd.in/gmPbWfri Insights From the First Digital Accessibility Salary Survey Jennison Asuncion and Jared Smith https://lnkd.in/dWKMiNYn   Getting Started in Digital Accessibility Becky Gibson https://lnkd.in/dbBWKqxx Vendor in Good Standing Project – Buying Accessible Ed Tech Jan McSorley, CPACC https://lnkd.in/dGz7AkSs Simplifying Mobile Accessibility Mark Steadman https://lnkd.in/d3v4Wsiy Billion-Dollar Brand Loyalty: Accessible Experiences for All Jillian Fortin Burtnett and Julie Romanowski https://lnkd.in/daFU2jUv Ask and Learn - Include Disabled People in User Studies Ashley Abaragu and Jayne Schurick https://lnkd.in/dGAcDZwE Designing ARIA Implementations for Complex, Custom Widgets Matt King https://lnkd.in/dxxJX9xd Tools for Teachers to Become Digital Accessibility Designers Kyle Sisk, Cynthia Curry, and Eric Caruso https://lnkd.in/dPj34nMN How to Create ADHD-Supportive Workplaces to Benefit Everyone Margaux Joffe, CPACC, Jaye Lin, Jesse J. Anderson, Julia Mullins, MBA, ACC https://lnkd.in/gPJij5Ms The Inclusive Magic School Bus: XR & Neurodiverse Education Stephanie Montgomery, Jonathan Teske, Michael Preston, Kaylee Brown, MBA https://lnkd.in/gaNirrr5 Truancy Court or Student Support: Addressing Absenteeism Sharon Bradley, M.Ed., Jordan Posamentier, Shelneka Adams-Marsalone, Kyra Rhoads: While this one isn't about accessibility, it's an important topic and affects those who lack access to resources. Besides, Sharon is all kinds of awesome and has been reducing absenteeism in Plano ISD! https://lnkd.in/diwUXNeq #Accessibility #SXSW #Inclusion

At Cornerstone VR, we're transforming how professionals connect, empathise, and build relationships with families. Feedback from our recent online information event with special guests from University of Birmingham and Sandwell Children's Trust highlighted the power of our new RIVRT (Research Informed Virtual Relationship-based Practice Training). 100% of attendees surveyed shared that they are 'very likely' to recommend RIVRT training to social are professionals, with feedback including: "This will train staff to look at getting to know the family, focusing on the client's needs." 💡 What is RIVRT? RIVRT immerses professionals in real-world social work scenarios through VR, enabling them to experience the subtle, real-life dynamics of child protection and social care practice. Over two days and seven modules, participants embark on an 11-month journey with a fictional family, uncovering the ‘barriers’ and ‘enablers’ to relationship-based practices. ✅ Why It Matters: This research-backed training enhances skills in empathy, resilience, and relational understanding, providing professionals with the tools to make meaningful changes for children and families. 🌟 Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional, RIVRT offers: ➡️ A safe space to practice and refine critical skills. ➡️ Hands-on, research-informed scenarios that mirror complex realities. ➡️ A comprehensive training package to empower your team. Are you ready to set a new standard in social care? Join the movement that's reshaping professional development. Learn more about RIVRT: https://lnkd.in/dZHuFfgh #SocialCare #CornerstoneVR #RIVRT #ProfessionalDevelopment #SocialWork

Through the use of interactive devices, our hands-on empathy lab simulates the effects of online barriers that many students face when online. Everyone will benefit from this eye-opening experience. Whether you are wanting to: - Give your students a new perspective and heightened empathy for peers. - Teach IT and graphic design students about the need for inclusive design. - See first-hand how someone with a disability interacts with your website. The empathy lab provides the most powerful tool of all – education. Learn more about our interactive empathy lab experience and how it can help both students and teaching staff: https://zurl.co/ddYA #Education4All #Education #University #College #Teaching #Learning #A11y #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DigitalAccessibility #Communications #Disabilities #Inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #GraphicDesign #InformationTechnology #VR #Empathy

What is accessible #mixedreality? "It addresses various issues, such as reliance on physical movements that can be problematic for people with motor disabilities and barriers for people with vision impairments, to improve the #XR experience" for all. Related: #Metaverse: The New Frontier for #Inclusivity in the Workplace https://lnkd.in/dQzb6PqH