Opinion | Let’s free seniors with the wonders of virtual reality – InsideHalton.com

My eyes were opened literally.

At Christmas, my nephew received a wireless virtual reality set called Oculus. I tried it. My mind went boom and was instantly filled with possibilities especially when my mother tried it on and her jaw dropped. Her words, My god, so much space, made me think.

In my business of downsizing families, especially seniors, I often move them from a spacious multi-room family home with many memories, to a few manageable rooms where for the most part they dont stray too far save for meals and light social activities. But where is the exploration of life and travel? Life is experience.

At one point my nephew tapped into the Wi-Fi and YouTube to access 3-D virtual reality videos of various locations around the planet. I called out, CN Tower! He voice commanded it to send him there; it did. Suddenly, he looked straight up in his VR world and gasped. Wow, this thing is massive!

So my connecting the two made me ask, what if? What if someone set up regular visits to local seniors residences and plunked an adventurous, but physically restricted senior in a chair and supplied them with VR technology? Seniors could be treated to the experience of sitting on a calm beach for an hour with waves rolling in, the breeze simulated by a small fan Id position nearby maybe the odd flick of water to make it feel like sea spray, and a tub of warm sand to wiggle their toes in.

When combined with head phones for sound, these 360 degree VR vistas could make a senior's day.

Why not? Talk about therapy. Heck, if someone funded me Id set it up in a heartbeat. With what is already available: walkabouts in Paris, museums, a spacewalk and an ocean cruise the world can be their oyster again, at least for a little while. Think of the kick; the social potential for experiencing life again.

Forget fighting off Zombies. Give me flying a glider or bicycling in the Tour de France or walking with elephants on an African plain or perched atop a mountain with unimaginable views all around.

Come on mom, let me sit you down. Hold your breath. This one will make you say, Wow again.

Try it. Itll bring a little therapy to your favourite senior.

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Opinion | Let's free seniors with the wonders of virtual reality - InsideHalton.com