[From UCSB news] Once a device limited to science fiction, virtual reality (VR) has made its way into everyday life. Now, a group of researchers and entrepreneurs, including UC Santa Barbara communication professor Tamara Afifi and social psychology professor Nancy Collins, are bringing VR to assisted living facilities, harnessing its power in a profound way. With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Afifi, an expert in interpersonal health communication, is partnering with the virtual reality company Rendever to test a new development in VR technology — long-distance synchronization — and how it might help residents, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline, stay in better touch with their families.
View the complete news release at: https://www.news.ucsb.edu/
Also see KCET news story (print and video), Virtual Reality study connects Maravilla residents with loved ones far away. https://keyt.com/health/2019/11/08/virtual-reality-study-connects-maravilla-residents-with-loved-ones-far-away/