Video gaming technology to improve lives of people with dementia

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-3-17 15:41:10

Australian healthcare experts have found a way to improve the quality of life of people with dementia through the use of video gaming technology, local media reported on Monday.

Alzheimer's Australia Vic has joined with Opaque Multimedia, a Melbourne digital-design studio, to use the technology to create a virtual forest for people with dementia to enjoy the environment that both stimulates the senses and engages through interactivity at home or in care centers.

McCabe, who is attending a game developers' conference at San Francisco to source crowdfunding on Monday, told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that the technology would bring a complete sensory experience of sight, sound and kinetic interaction for people with dementia.

"Imagine being able to take a person with dementia out of their everyday experience and into a virtual environment through which they will experience awe, wonder, giggles, amazement and joy," she said.

The idea was inspired by a previous IT project aimed at helping people understand what it feels like to have dementia, McCabe said.

She said the Forest Project was just the beginning, with more concepts such as a beach experience or a festive Christmas scenario to come.

Posted in: Asia-Pacific, IT

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