Wow. Wow. Wow. I’ve never heard the concept of VR as context, but it instantly resonated with me and makes a TON of sense. No research I have seen makes it seem like standout solution by itself, but instead gives another option for an environment that might be more engaging for subgroups.
I think new technologies are going to give us opportunities to personalize rehab in unprecedented ways, which will push us to draw even more heavily on our clinical reasoning for each individual than perhaps ever before.
@megan1, we’ve talked about technology a lot in the forums, and I think you are the first one to bring up buy-in, which is going to be huge. It seems like our challenge as OTs will be first to match technologies with the right patients, then help minimize barriers that typically cause technology abandonment.
I know that two of our group members, @lauren5 and @lauren2 are working on a presentation on technology abandonment, and I’ll be really curious to learn more about this topic in the future!
When you say “buy-in” are you referring to “cost” or “willingness”? I think both are so essential and you make a great point. For one, we have a very few very expensive devices at my rehab, that hardly get used. Yet the Nintendo Wii once is set up is highly used. Iv been told “The reason I don’t use the Wii is because it takes too long to set-up” and then I show them how I already set it up and it’s just a matter of turning on the TV and pressing about 6-8 buttons before game play, so the Wii is an example of an easy buy-in device that way.
That personalization is an interesting point, considering as a culture we are becoming increasingly more digitally native (used to digital technology from birth), that it’s going to be increasingly more apart of our activities of daily living
Grant_Mitchell- I was thinking more about willingness to use, and understanding the benefits of VR (and other technologies for that matter!). But cost is certainly a factor too! What the facility and/or client has available can impact the best course of action the practitioner should take.
I recently stumbled across this article while I was searching for something to spark my interest. I think the idea behind this intervention strategy is very unique and can raise a great conversation. I do think that a younger generation would benefit more from this type of activity as opposed to most older individuals. Even though the study did not deliver any significant results in favor of VR, I can imagine how much fun someone could have in therapy if this was on the agenda.