Virtual Worlds for Well-being

Home > Projects > Virtual Worlds for Well-being

Well-being is important for both young and old, and in this digital technologies can play a role. This project focuses on the use of virtual worlds and sensors. The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences is involved in three distinct subprojects: ‘Touch’, ‘Exercise’ and ‘Monitor’.

The elderly require social interaction. The subproject ‘Touch’ addresses the question of how IT can provide a solution for this social stimulation through the use of tangible interfaces. Elderly retirees commence a new social phase after exiting the workforce. Often they are left facing the question what to do next. Family? Travel? Evidence supports that physical contact has an emotional value and constitutes a form of communication directly related to a sense of social connectedness. Usage of applications limited to audiovisual technologies like iPads are thus insufficient in fulfilling this need. The subproject ‘Touch’ explores interfaces that can simulate this needed sensory stimulation.

The subproject ‘Exercise’ examines virtual worlds and sensors that encourage the user to ambulate and perform their exercises. The coaching of patients after hip surgery is the key focus of this project.

In the subproject ‘Monitor’ an interactive wall was developed for elderly suffering from dementia. In one of AMSTA’s nursing homes a wall was equipped with sensors and large displays, on which images of patients’ pasts can be displayed.

Images & Video

Publications