Virtual Worlds and Medical Education Rashid Kashani, BA, BSc, BScOT, MScOT(C)(R) Occupational Therapist / PhD Student

Outline What are Virtual Worlds (VW s)? Current clinical uses, studies Why use a VW at all? Demonstration, further examples Current research in development – client and student focused

What Many Think When Hearing the Term “Virtual Worlds”…

So What are Virtual Worlds? A virtual world is an interactive simulated environment accessed by multiple users through an online interface. There are many different types of virtual worlds, however there are six features all of them have in common: Shared Space Graphical User Interface Immediacy Interactivity Persistence Socialization/Community Education in Second Life

Current Clinical Uses

Limitations and Barriers Perceived: Cost Too hard to use Real is better than virtual Real: Habits Learning of some new skills required Sometimes real is better than virtual (but sometimes it’s the other way around too!) Need for further research, infancy of technology Virtual economies are tied to the real ones

So why use VWs at all? Interactivity Safety Training costs Immersion Shift in type of learning/experiences The 3D Web is coming – remember what happened when…

Demonstrations Jefferson Occupational Therapy in Second Life®UPDATE Virtual Nursing Education in Second Life “In-World” Demonstration on “Ability Island” Others….

Current Research in Development – Student / Learner Focused

Current Research in Development – Client / Patient Focused

Contact Information RL – (780) Aberhart Centre 8311 (3rd floor) SL – IM: Rashid Singh