Virtual Reality Is Used to Enhance the Lives of Aging Soldiers

New York's Long Island State Veterans Home is using virtual reality to bring exotic experiences to residents, many of whom are too old or ill to travel and want a better quality of life, reports Newsday . The community has acquired 10 virtual-reality headsets that allow users to visually immerse themselves in artificial experiences, such as swimming with dolphins or following the flight of a hummingbird. The community leased the gear from MyndVR via a $20,000 grant from Bowlers to Veterans Link. "We believe virtual reality is the next step in providing better care for our residents," says veterans home deputy director Jonathan Spier. The headsets are cellphone-sized video screens with sensors that detect where in the scene the viewer's gaze is directed, and the video software shifts the scene in a way that simulates the perspective of a user scanning left or right, up or down. The user can choose from a library of video scenes by peering at a menu at the lower edge of their field of vision. Experts believe virtual reality is well-suited to former soldiers whose age or service injuries make travel difficult. Therapists say the technology can not only help them overcome physical limitations, but also address the depression that can come as people transition from independent lives to the confines of nursing communities.