Immersive Virtual Reality Exergames for People Living with Dementia: Working Through a User-Centered Co-Creation Process as a Multi-Stakeholder Team During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Muñoz ◽  
Samira Mehrabi ◽  
Yirou Li ◽  
Aysha Basharat ◽  
Jennifer Boger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

BACKGROUND Advancements in supporting personalized healthcare and wellbeing using virtual reality (VR) has created opportunities to use immersive games to support a healthy lifestyle for persons living with dementia (PLWD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Collaboratively designing exercise-video games (exergames) as a multi-stakeholder team is fundamental to creating games that are attractive, effective, and accessible. OBJECTIVE This research explores the use of participatory design methods that involve PLWD in long-term care facilitates, exercise professionals, content developers, game designers, and researchers in the creation of VR exergames targeting physical activity promotion for PLWD/MCI. METHODS Conceptualization, collaborative design, and playtesting activities were carried out to design VR exergames to engage PLWD in exercises to promote upper-limb flexibility, strength and aerobic endurance RESULTS Our results demonstrate how different stakeholders contribute to the design of VR exergames that consider/complement complex needs, preferences, and motivators of an underrepresented group of end-users as well as game design elements that reflect feedback for therapists and researchers. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that collaborative multi-stakeholder design results in more tailored and context-aware VR games for PLWD. The insights and lessons learned in from this research can be used by others to co-design games, including remote engagement techniques that were used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Interior Design of Care Homes for People with Alzheimer's Disease: A Comparative Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-198
Author(s):  
Tina Krliu
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Interior Environment

BACKGROUND: The population of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is rapidly increasing worldwide. While in Republic of Macedonia there is no formal special care for people with AD, developed countries are expanding on both the typology of their care homes and services they offer for people with AD. The Macedonian aging population is in need of long-term care (LTC) options tailored to meet the special needs of people with AD.AIM: The aims of this study are (i) to explore the Macedonian approach to the problem of creating LTC environments for people with AD, as compared to the approach of a developed country through the example of Canada, and (ii) to identify successful interior design characteristics that would meet the special needs of people with AD. METHODS: The study begins by reviewing existing literature with the purpose of obtaining knowledge about the common clinical symptoms of AD (i.e. memory problems and behavior) and how these changes have an impact on the interaction between AD individuals and the physical environment they live in. For the purposes of the study, a fieldtrip was conducted in two LTC homes in Toronto (Canada) offering special 24 hour care for people with AD, and one LTC home in Skopje (Macedonia) that includes people with AD in their care program. The interior design of LTC homes was described through photographs, plans, observations and a description of the spaces used by people with AD. For a controlled analysis of the recorded environments, the 'Evaluation of Older People's Living Environments (EVOLVE)' questionnaire was used. RESULTS: The identified qualities from the case studies, and the lessons learned throughout the analysis of the key design elements, were used towards developing a list of suggestions for modifying the interior of the Macedonian LTC home. The developed suggestions were classified into two groups: (1) proposals for minimal constructional modifications of the interior environment, and (2) proposals for major constructional modifications of the interior environment. CONCLUSION: While the suggested modifications are not final changes of the LTC environment, they are an important step towards developing a design strategy for providing 24 hour care for people with AD in Macedonia.

scholarly journals “It Makes You Feel That You Are There”: Exploring the Acceptability of Virtual Reality Nature Environments for People with Memory Loss

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Noreen Orr ◽  
Nicola L. Yeo ◽  
Sarah G. Dean ◽  
Mathew P. White ◽  
Ruth Garside
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Term Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Future Work ◽  
With Memory

Aim: To report on the acceptability of virtual reality (VR) nature environments for people with memory loss at memory cafes, and explore the experiences and perceptions of carers and staff. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted between January and March 2019. Ten adults with memory loss, eight carers and six volunteer staff were recruited from two memory cafes, located in Cornwall, UK. There were 19 VR sessions which were audio recorded and all participants were interviewed at the end of the sessions. Framework analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the data. Results: During the VR experience, participants were engaged to varying degrees, with engagement facilitated by the researcher, and in some cases, with the help of a carer. Participants responded positively to the nature scenes, finding them soothing and evoking memories. The VR experience was positive; many felt immersed in nature and saw it as an opportunity to ‘go somewhere’. However, it was not always positive and for a few, it could be ‘strange’. Participants reflected on their experience of the VR equipment, and volunteer staff and carers also shared their perceptions of VR for people with dementia in long-term care settings. Conclusions: The VR nature experience was an opportunity for people with memory loss to be immersed in nature and offered the potential to enhance their quality of life. Future work should build on lessons learned and continue to work with people with dementia in developing and implementing VR technology in long-term care settings.

scholarly journals Preparedness and response to an emerging health threat—Lessons learned from Candida auris outbreaks in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Diane Meyer ◽  
Elena K. Martin ◽  
Syra Madad ◽  
Priya Dhagat ◽  
Jennifer B. Nuzzo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Healthcare Facilities

Abstract Objective: Candida auris infections continue to occur across the United States and abroad, and healthcare facilities that care for vulnerable populations must improve their readiness to respond to this emerging organism. We aimed to identify and better understand challenges faced and lessons learned by those healthcare facilities who have experienced C. auris cases and outbreaks to better prepare those who have yet to experience or respond to this pathogen. Design: Semi-structured qualitative interviews. Setting: Health departments, long-term care facilities, acute-care hospitals, and healthcare organizations in New York, Illinois, and California. Participants: Infectious disease physicians and nurses, clinical and environmental services, hospital leadership, hospital epidemiology, infection preventionists, emergency management, and laboratory scientists who had experiences either preparing for or responding to C. auris cases or outbreaks. Methods: In total, 25 interviews were conducted with 84 participants. Interviews were coded using NVivo qualitative coding software by 2 separate researchers. Emergent themes were then iteratively discussed among the research team. Results: Key themes included surveillance and laboratory capacity, inter- and intrafacility communication, infection prevention and control, environmental cleaning and disinfection, clinical management of cases, and media concerns and stigma. Conclusions: Many of the operational challenges noted in this research are not unique to C. auris, and the ways in which we address future outbreaks should be informed by previous experiences and lessons learned, including the recent outbreaks of C. auris in the United States.

Evaluating and Motivating Activation in Long Term Care: Lessons From a Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
J. Jbilou ◽  
A. El Bouazaoui ◽  
B. Zhang ◽  
J.L. Henry ◽  
L McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Technological Intervention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Research Recommendations

Older adults living in long-term care facilities typically receive insufficient exercise and have long periods of the day when they are not doing anything other than sitting or lying down, watching television, or ruminating (Wilkinson et al., 2017). We developed an intervention called the Experiential Centivizer, which provides residents with opportunities to use a driving simulator, watch world travel videos, and engage in exercise. We assessed the impact of the intervention on residents of a long-term care home in Fredericton, NB, Canada. In this paper, we report on the results observed and highlight the lessons learned from implementing a technological intervention within a long-term care setting. Practical and research recommendations are also discussed to facilitate future intervention implementation in long-term care.

Investigating a Virtual Reality-based Emergency Response Scenario and Intelligent User Interface for First Responders

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 2114-2118
Author(s):  
Randall Spain ◽  
Jason Saville ◽  
Barry Lui ◽  
Donia Slack ◽  
Edward Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
User Interface ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
User Interfaces ◽  
Mental Workload ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intelligent User Interfaces ◽  
Intelligent User Interface

Because advances in broadband capabilities will soon allow first responders to access and use many forms of data when responding to emergencies, it is becoming critically important to design heads-up displays to present first responders with information in a manner that does not induce extraneous mental workload or cause undue interaction errors. Virtual reality offers a unique medium for envisioning and testing user interface concepts in a realistic and controlled environment. In this paper, we describe a virtual reality-based emergency response scenario that was designed to support user experience research for evaluating the efficacy of intelligent user interfaces for firefighters. We describe the results of a usability test that captured firefighters’ feedback and reactions to the VR scenario and the prototype intelligent user interface that presented them with task critical information through the VR headset. The paper concludes with lessons learned from our development process and a discussion of plans for future research.

scholarly journals Moving through Motherhood: Involving the Public in Research to Inform Physical Activity Promotion throughout Pregnancy and Beyond

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4482
Author(s):  
Victoria E. Salmon ◽  
Lauren R. Rodgers ◽  
Peter Rouse ◽  
Oli Williams ◽  
Emma Cockcroft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
Physical Activity Behaviour ◽  
Patient And Public Involvement ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Development Outcomes

Information received by women regarding physical activity during and after pregnancy often lacks clarity and may be conflicting and confusing. Without clear, engaging, accessible guidance centred on the experiences of pregnancy and parenting, the benefits of physical activity can be lost. We describe a collaborative process to inform the design of evidence-based, user-centred physical activity resources which reflect diverse experiences of pregnancy and early parenthood. Two iterative, collaborative phases involving patient and public involvement (PPI) workshops, a scoping survey (n = 553) and stakeholder events engaged women and maternity, policy and physical activity stakeholders to inform pilot resource development. These activities shaped understanding of challenges experienced by maternity and physical activity service providers, pregnant women and new mothers in relation to supporting physical activity. Working collaboratively with women and stakeholders, we co-designed pilot resources and identified important considerations for future resource development. Outcomes and lessons learned from this process will inform further work to support physical activity during pregnancy and beyond, but also wider health research where such collaborative approaches are important. We hope that drawing on our experiences and sharing outcomes from this work provide useful information for researchers, healthcare professionals, policy makers and those involved in supporting physical activity behaviour.

scholarly journals Children’s interactive storytelling in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-67
Author(s):  
Dylan Yamada-Rice
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Interactive Storytelling ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Visual Style ◽  
Multimodal Methods ◽  
Core Points

This article reports on one stage of a project that considered twenty 8–12-years-olds use of Virtual Reality (VR) for entertainment. The entire project considered this in relation to interaction and engagement, health and safety and how VR play fitted into children’s everyday home lives. The specific focus of this article is solely on children’s interaction and engagement with a range of VR content on both a low-end and high-end head mounted display (HMD). The data were analysed using novel multimodal methods that included stop-motion animation and graphic narratives to develop multimodal means for analysis within the context of VR. The data highlighted core design elements in VR content that promoted or inhibited children’s storytelling in virtual worlds. These are visual style, movement and sound which are described in relation to three core points of the user’s journey through the virtual story; (1) entering the virtual environment, (2) being in the virtual story world, and (3) affecting the story through interactive objects. The findings offer research-based design implications for the improvement of virtual content for children, specifically in relation to creating content that promotes creativity and storytelling, thereby extending the benefits that have previously been highlighted in the field of interactive storytelling with other digital media.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document