[Applause] from 2008 to 2009 I was in graduate
from 2008 to 2009 I was in graduate
from 2008 to 2009 I was in graduate school studying a very simple task
school studying a very simple task
school studying a very simple task walking now walking is a fundamental
walking now walking is a fundamental
walking now walking is a fundamental skill the practically everybody on earth
skill the practically everybody on earth
skill the practically everybody on earth figures out how to do within the first
figures out how to do within the first
figures out how to do within the first year of life however walking is
year of life however walking is
year of life however walking is incredibly complex if you think about
incredibly complex if you think about
incredibly complex if you think about all of the pieces that are involved your
all of the pieces that are involved your
all of the pieces that are involved your body is made up of 206 bones over 600
body is made up of 206 bones over 600
body is made up of 206 bones over 600 muscles and millions of nerves and
muscles and millions of nerves and
muscles and millions of nerves and neurons and all of those pieces have to
neurons and all of those pieces have to
neurons and all of those pieces have to work together in order to keep you from
work together in order to keep you from
work together in order to keep you from falling down and falling is that one of
falling down and falling is that one of
falling down and falling is that one of the leading causes of injuries in the
the leading causes of injuries in the
the leading causes of injuries in the United States so we did a lot of work
United States so we did a lot of work
United States so we did a lot of work trying to figure out how do all these
trying to figure out how do all these
trying to figure out how do all these pieces talk to each other in order to
pieces talk to each other in order to
pieces talk to each other in order to reduce fall risk now as I was studying
reduce fall risk now as I was studying
reduce fall risk now as I was studying this in grad school the story got very
this in grad school the story got very
this in grad school the story got very personal for me
personal for me
personal for me I saw my father fall for the very first
I saw my father fall for the very first
I saw my father fall for the very first time and many of you in the room can
time and many of you in the room can
time and many of you in the room can attest to the feeling of the very first
attest to the feeling of the very first
attest to the feeling of the very first time you see your parents in a
time you see your parents in a
time you see your parents in a vulnerable situation it shakes you to
vulnerable situation it shakes you to
vulnerable situation it shakes you to the core now I knew my father was human
the core now I knew my father was human
the core now I knew my father was human and eventually aging would catch up to
and eventually aging would catch up to
and eventually aging would catch up to him I wasn’t ready to see it
him I wasn’t ready to see it
him I wasn’t ready to see it my parents were high school sweethearts
my parents were high school sweethearts
my parents were high school sweethearts got married right after high school had
got married right after high school had
got married right after high school had me one year and 15 days later so I had
me one year and 15 days later so I had
me one year and 15 days later so I had the privilege of growing up with rather
the privilege of growing up with rather
the privilege of growing up with rather young parents and my father was always
young parents and my father was always
young parents and my father was always available to play outside with me of
available to play outside with me of
available to play outside with me of course he was much bigger and stronger
course he was much bigger and stronger
course he was much bigger and stronger than I was but he always let me put up a
than I was but he always let me put up a
than I was but he always let me put up a challenge this combined with the fact
challenge this combined with the fact
challenge this combined with the fact that my father worked a manual labor job
that my father worked a manual labor job
that my father worked a manual labor job led me to see my father as a
led me to see my father as a
led me to see my father as a larger-than-life figure someone who was
larger-than-life figure someone who was
larger-than-life figure someone who was strong full of wisdom and could do
strong full of wisdom and could do
strong full of wisdom and could do anything he set his mind to now the
anything he set his mind to now the
anything he set his mind to now the first time I saw my father fall that
first time I saw my father fall that
first time I saw my father fall that shook me to the core I wasn’t ready to
shook me to the core I wasn’t ready to
shook me to the core I wasn’t ready to see that but it’s inevitable and it
see that but it’s inevitable and it
see that but it’s inevitable and it happens so aging combined with some
happens so aging combined with some
happens so aging combined with some numbness in his feet that stem from back
numbness in his feet that stem from back
numbness in his feet that stem from back surgery a couple of decades ago I knew
surgery a couple of decades ago I knew
surgery a couple of decades ago I knew would eventually catch up with him and
would eventually catch up with him and
would eventually catch up with him and it did
it did
it did now I’m happy to report that my father
now I’m happy to report that my father
now I’m happy to report that my father has lived a relatively injury-free life
has lived a relatively injury-free life
has lived a relatively injury-free life since then he’s figured out how to cope
since then he’s figured out how to cope
since then he’s figured out how to cope with the numbness in his feet to walk
with the numbness in his feet to walk
with the numbness in his feet to walk around without having more false but not
around without having more false but not
around without having more false but not everybody has that luxury I ask you to
everybody has that luxury I ask you to
everybody has that luxury I ask you to perform this thought experiment with me
perform this thought experiment with me
perform this thought experiment with me close your eyes now imagine all the
close your eyes now imagine all the
close your eyes now imagine all the sudden your ability to walk was taken
sudden your ability to walk was taken
sudden your ability to walk was taken away how would you get out of this
away how would you get out of this
away how would you get out of this auditorium
auditorium
auditorium how would you cross the street how would
how would you cross the street how would
how would you cross the street how would you walk up the stairs in your home now
you walk up the stairs in your home now
you walk up the stairs in your home now open your eyes I ask you to perform that
open your eyes I ask you to perform that
open your eyes I ask you to perform that thought experiment with me because all
thought experiment with me because all
thought experiment with me because all of the activities that just described
of the activities that just described
of the activities that just described are called activities of daily living if
are called activities of daily living if
are called activities of daily living if your ability to do them is diminished or
your ability to do them is diminished or
your ability to do them is diminished or even taken away that can severely change
even taken away that can severely change
even taken away that can severely change how you interact with the world and it
how you interact with the world and it
how you interact with the world and it also can change your quality of life
also can change your quality of life
also can change your quality of life so we’d studied in graduate school all
so we’d studied in graduate school all
so we’d studied in graduate school all of the pieces of the body how it all
of the pieces of the body how it all
of the pieces of the body how it all works together ultimately so we could
works together ultimately so we could
works together ultimately so we could better understand how to reduce fall
better understand how to reduce fall
better understand how to reduce fall risk and enhance quality of life and one
risk and enhance quality of life and one
risk and enhance quality of life and one way we could potentially do that is
way we could potentially do that is
way we could potentially do that is through the use of virtual reality now
through the use of virtual reality now
through the use of virtual reality now you may be wondering how a scientist
you may be wondering how a scientist
you may be wondering how a scientist that studies how we walk around without
that studies how we walk around without
that studies how we walk around without falling over ultimately ends up using
falling over ultimately ends up using
falling over ultimately ends up using virtual reality to keep us from falling
virtual reality to keep us from falling
virtual reality to keep us from falling down well in graduate school we weren’t
down well in graduate school we weren’t
down well in graduate school we weren’t just studying fall risk what we’re
just studying fall risk what we’re
just studying fall risk what we’re actually studying is how when humans
actually studying is how when humans
actually studying is how when humans walk around the world they use visual
walk around the world they use visual
walk around the world they use visual information to control their walking
information to control their walking
information to control their walking behavior now I presume all of you walked
behavior now I presume all of you walked
behavior now I presume all of you walked into this building today without running
into this building today without running
into this building today without running into each other or into a wall but how
into each other or into a wall but how
into each other or into a wall but how did you do that as someone was
did you do that as someone was
did you do that as someone was approaching you on the sidewalk you
approaching you on the sidewalk you
approaching you on the sidewalk you didn’t stop and say okay you go this way
didn’t stop and say okay you go this way
didn’t stop and say okay you go this way and I’m going to go that way you didn’t
and I’m going to go that way you didn’t
and I’m going to go that way you didn’t do that we don’t have that verbal
do that we don’t have that verbal
do that we don’t have that verbal communication when you’re moving
communication when you’re moving
communication when you’re moving throughout the world what you did was
throughout the world what you did was
throughout the world what you did was you look to see well what direction are
you look to see well what direction are
you look to see well what direction are they going how fast are they going
they going how fast are they going
they going how fast are they going where’s the edge of the hallway okay I’m
where’s the edge of the hallway okay I’m
where’s the edge of the hallway okay I’m going to choose this path and we use
going to choose this path and we use
going to choose this path and we use that visual information to ultimately
that visual information to ultimately
that visual information to ultimately drive our walking behavior so that we
drive our walking behavior so that we
drive our walking behavior so that we don’t run into things or trip on things
don’t run into things or trip on things
don’t run into things or trip on things and ultimately reduces our fall risk
and ultimately reduces our fall risk
and ultimately reduces our fall risk so we did a lot of studies in graduate
so we did a lot of studies in graduate
so we did a lot of studies in graduate school trying to figure out how do we
school trying to figure out how do we
school trying to figure out how do we use this visual information ultimately
use this visual information ultimately
use this visual information ultimately to control our walking behavior this is
to control our walking behavior this is
to control our walking behavior this is when the lightbulb went on for me what
when the lightbulb went on for me what
when the lightbulb went on for me what if we could control the visual
if we could control the visual
if we could control the visual information coming into the system to
information coming into the system to
information coming into the system to ultimately get the desired motor output
ultimately get the desired motor output
ultimately get the desired motor output what if we could put someone in virtual
what if we could put someone in virtual
what if we could put someone in virtual reality
reality
reality have them interact with that virtual
have them interact with that virtual
have them interact with that virtual environment and ultimately use that to
environment and ultimately use that to
environment and ultimately use that to drive their walking ability so this is
drive their walking ability so this is
drive their walking ability so this is what led me to a two-and-a-half year
what led me to a two-and-a-half year
what led me to a two-and-a-half year postdoc in a virtual reality lab where I
postdoc in a virtual reality lab where I
postdoc in a virtual reality lab where I studied how we can merge virtual reality
studied how we can merge virtual reality
studied how we can merge virtual reality and physical therapy together now
and physical therapy together now
and physical therapy together now virtual reality is simply an environment
virtual reality is simply an environment
virtual reality is simply an environment in which the user can interact with it’s
in which the user can interact with it’s
in which the user can interact with it’s a computer-generated environment and we
a computer-generated environment and we
a computer-generated environment and we can make that computer-generated
can make that computer-generated
can make that computer-generated environment to be whatever we want it to
environment to be whatever we want it to
environment to be whatever we want it to be in this particular example we’ve
be in this particular example we’ve
be in this particular example we’ve created a virtual road and some virtual
created a virtual road and some virtual
created a virtual road and some virtual Cooper minis were imported into that
Cooper minis were imported into that
Cooper minis were imported into that road and they just zoom up and down that
road and they just zoom up and down that
road and they just zoom up and down that road and your job is to cross that road
road and your job is to cross that road
road and your job is to cross that road so this is just one example of how we
so this is just one example of how we
so this is just one example of how we can create a virtual environment and
can create a virtual environment and
can create a virtual environment and there’s lots of different ways in which
there’s lots of different ways in which
there’s lots of different ways in which virtual environments have been shown or
virtual environments have been shown or
virtual environments have been shown or can be shown to the user one way is
can be shown to the user one way is
can be shown to the user one way is through the use of a big projection
through the use of a big projection
through the use of a big projection screen in front of a treadmill and as
screen in front of a treadmill and as
screen in front of a treadmill and as the participant is walking on the
the participant is walking on the
the participant is walking on the treadmill that virtual environment is
treadmill that virtual environment is
treadmill that virtual environment is moving toward them in this case a
moving toward them in this case a
moving toward them in this case a virtual hallway so it sort of feels like
virtual hallway so it sort of feels like
virtual hallway so it sort of feels like they’re walking through this virtual
they’re walking through this virtual
they’re walking through this virtual hallway now this is somewhat realistic
hallway now this is somewhat realistic
hallway now this is somewhat realistic because it kind of feels like you’re
because it kind of feels like you’re
because it kind of feels like you’re interacting with the virtual environment
interacting with the virtual environment
interacting with the virtual environment but in your periphery you can still see
but in your periphery you can still see
but in your periphery you can still see the room isn’t moving that virtual
the room isn’t moving that virtual
the room isn’t moving that virtual environment is so it’s somewhat
environment is so it’s somewhat
environment is so it’s somewhat realistic if we want to make it even
realistic if we want to make it even
realistic if we want to make it even more realistic we can use a headset such
more realistic we can use a headset such
more realistic we can use a headset such as the one here in the picture this
as the one here in the picture this
as the one here in the picture this headset allows the user to see the
headset allows the user to see the
headset allows the user to see the virtual environment through the lenses
virtual environment through the lenses
virtual environment through the lenses but there’s sensors in that headset and
but there’s sensors in that headset and
but there’s sensors in that headset and those sensors update the virtual
those sensors update the virtual
those sensors update the virtual environment as you move around so you
environment as you move around so you
environment as you move around so you take a step forward that virtual
take a step forward that virtual
take a step forward that virtual environment comes at you as you take a
environment comes at you as you take a
environment comes at you as you take a step backwards that virtual environment
step backwards that virtual environment
step backwards that virtual environment moves away it feels like you’re inside
moves away it feels like you’re inside
moves away it feels like you’re inside the video game this can now have a whole
the video game this can now have a whole
the video game this can now have a whole lot more applications because you’re
lot more applications because you’re
lot more applications because you’re truly immersed within this virtual
truly immersed within this virtual
truly immersed within this virtual environment now
environment now
environment now researchers have long had a pipe dream
researchers have long had a pipe dream
researchers have long had a pipe dream of using virtual reality within a
of using virtual reality within a
of using virtual reality within a clinical setting but one of those
clinical setting but one of those
clinical setting but one of those barriers is the cost and another one is
barriers is the cost and another one is
barriers is the cost and another one is the bulkiness the cost of the headset
the bulkiness the cost of the headset
the bulkiness the cost of the headset that you see here in the picture is the
that you see here in the picture is the
that you see here in the picture is the first headset that we purchased for our
first headset that we purchased for our
first headset that we purchased for our research laboratory six years ago cost
research laboratory six years ago cost
research laboratory six years ago cost thirty seven thousand dollars it’s more
thirty seven thousand dollars it’s more
thirty seven thousand dollars it’s more than a lot of new cars so this was never
than a lot of new cars so this was never
than a lot of new cars so this was never something that was going to be widely
something that was going to be widely
something that was going to be widely accepted in a clinical community the
accepted in a clinical community the
accepted in a clinical community the cost and price point was just too high
cost and price point was just too high
cost and price point was just too high so how in the world can we use virtual
so how in the world can we use virtual
so how in the world can we use virtual reality than for physical therapy if we
reality than for physical therapy if we
reality than for physical therapy if we have these barriers well luckily there’s
have these barriers well luckily there’s
have these barriers well luckily there’s been some acceleration in the virtual
been some acceleration in the virtual
been some acceleration in the virtual reality community in the last several
reality community in the last several
reality community in the last several years and that acceleration has been
years and that acceleration has been
years and that acceleration has been fueled by Facebook the first tour the
fueled by Facebook the first tour the
fueled by Facebook the first tour the social interaction company social media
social interaction company social media
social interaction company social media company Facebook has been on the leading
company Facebook has been on the leading
company Facebook has been on the leading edge of social interaction since its
edge of social interaction since its
edge of social interaction since its inception and they’ve always been
inception and they’ve always been
inception and they’ve always been looking for new ways that they can have
looking for new ways that they can have
looking for new ways that they can have their users socially interact and one
their users socially interact and one
their users socially interact and one way that they think that this may happen
way that they think that this may happen
way that they think that this may happen in the future is you put on your headset
in the future is you put on your headset
in the future is you put on your headset in your home and you put on your headset
in your home and you put on your headset
in your home and you put on your headset in your home and poof you’re in the same
in your home and poof you’re in the same
in your home and poof you’re in the same virtual environment having a social
virtual environment having a social
virtual environment having a social interaction now this was not going to
interaction now this was not going to
interaction now this was not going to work if we had $37,000 headsets out
work if we had $37,000 headsets out
work if we had $37,000 headsets out there this isn’t something that was
there this isn’t something that was
there this isn’t something that was going to be widely adopted but Facebook
going to be widely adopted but Facebook
going to be widely adopted but Facebook was thinking about this several years
was thinking about this several years
was thinking about this several years ago at about the same time there was a
ago at about the same time there was a
ago at about the same time there was a company in California called oculus VR
company in California called oculus VR
company in California called oculus VR and that company had the goal of
and that company had the goal of
and that company had the goal of creating headsets for the masses
creating headsets for the masses
creating headsets for the masses primarily for the gaming industry and
primarily for the gaming industry and
primarily for the gaming industry and they created a product that was starting
they created a product that was starting
they created a product that was starting to catch a lot of people’s attention so
to catch a lot of people’s attention so
to catch a lot of people’s attention so in 2012 they had a Kickstarter campaign
in 2012 they had a Kickstarter campaign
in 2012 they had a Kickstarter campaign and raised 250 million dollars for their
and raised 250 million dollars for their
and raised 250 million dollars for their headset company yeah a lot of people
headset company yeah a lot of people
headset company yeah a lot of people took notice of this including Facebook
took notice of this including Facebook
took notice of this including Facebook who was thinking about using social
who was thinking about using social
who was thinking about using social interaction but they needed a
interaction but they needed a
interaction but they needed a deliverable and a headset that more
deliverable and a headset that more
deliverable and a headset that more people could use two short years later
people could use two short years later
people could use two short years later Facebook purchased oculus VR
Facebook purchased oculus VR
Facebook purchased oculus VR two billion dollars in 2014
two billion dollars in 2014
two billion dollars in 2014 Facebook at that point jumped headfirst
Facebook at that point jumped headfirst
Facebook at that point jumped headfirst into the virtual reality community there
into the virtual reality community there
into the virtual reality community there are a lot of other large companies that
are a lot of other large companies that
are a lot of other large companies that were thinking about how they could use
were thinking about how they could use
were thinking about how they could use virtual reality for their users
virtual reality for their users
virtual reality for their users primarily for the entertainment industry
primarily for the entertainment industry
primarily for the entertainment industry so what that caused was a acceleration
so what that caused was a acceleration
so what that caused was a acceleration across a large number of companies to
across a large number of companies to
across a large number of companies to say Oh Facebook’s in here
say Oh Facebook’s in here
say Oh Facebook’s in here they’re Greeks they’re doing their
they’re Greeks they’re doing their
they’re Greeks they’re doing their research and development we need to get
research and development we need to get
research and development we need to get into it too and many of you may have
into it too and many of you may have
into it too and many of you may have seen a lot of the commercials Samsung
seen a lot of the commercials Samsung
seen a lot of the commercials Samsung and some other companies of how they use
and some other companies of how they use
and some other companies of how they use their own headsets for their
their own headsets for their
their own headsets for their entertainment purposes in fact the
entertainment purposes in fact the
entertainment purposes in fact the smartphone many of you have in your
smartphone many of you have in your
smartphone many of you have in your pocket can be used as a headset these
pocket can be used as a headset these
pocket can be used as a headset these days so depending on the resolution
days so depending on the resolution
days so depending on the resolution fidelity so forth there’s lots of
fidelity so forth there’s lots of
fidelity so forth there’s lots of options and the price point has
options and the price point has
options and the price point has significantly dropped the price point
significantly dropped the price point
significantly dropped the price point for headset this headset was $37,000 the
for headset this headset was $37,000 the
for headset this headset was $37,000 the price point for headsets these days I’ll
price point for headsets these days I’ll
price point for headsets these days I’ll show you an example here in a moment is
show you an example here in a moment is
show you an example here in a moment is on the order of hundreds of dollars six
on the order of hundreds of dollars six
on the order of hundreds of dollars six short years virtual reality has become a
short years virtual reality has become a
short years virtual reality has become a reality for us now virtual reality then
reality for us now virtual reality then
reality for us now virtual reality then two or three years ago as the headset
two or three years ago as the headset
two or three years ago as the headset industry was developing was still
industry was developing was still
industry was developing was still primarily used in the gaming industry so
primarily used in the gaming industry so
primarily used in the gaming industry so think about how the typical gamer
think about how the typical gamer
think about how the typical gamer experience goes it’s a user sitting on a
experience goes it’s a user sitting on a
experience goes it’s a user sitting on a couch with a controller and they’re
couch with a controller and they’re
couch with a controller and they’re staring at the TV screen and that TV
staring at the TV screen and that TV
staring at the TV screen and that TV screen has their virtual character
screen has their virtual character
screen has their virtual character running through the virtual environment
running through the virtual environment
running through the virtual environment and they’re controlling that with the
and they’re controlling that with the
and they’re controlling that with the headset or thick controller now through
headset or thick controller now through
headset or thick controller now through the use of a headset that puts that user
the use of a headset that puts that user
the use of a headset that puts that user inside the video game they are literally
inside the video game they are literally
inside the video game they are literally seeing everything from a first-person
seeing everything from a first-person
seeing everything from a first-person view in the early versions you still had
view in the early versions you still had
view in the early versions you still had to control your movement with a
to control your movement with a
to control your movement with a controller like you see here in the
controller like you see here in the
controller like you see here in the picture but at least it made it a more
picture but at least it made it a more
picture but at least it made it a more immersive experience you weren’t just
immersive experience you weren’t just
immersive experience you weren’t just staring at a TV screen off in the
staring at a TV screen off in the
staring at a TV screen off in the distance now there’s been advancements
distance now there’s been advancements
distance now there’s been advancements even in the last year that have made
even in the last year that have made
even in the last year that have made this even more realistic the gaming
this even more realistic the gaming
this even more realistic the gaming experience no longer necessarily feels
experience no longer necessarily feels
experience no longer necessarily feels like a game but a truly immersive
like a game but a truly immersive
like a game but a truly immersive experience and that’s through technology
experience and that’s through technology
experience and that’s through technology that has motion capture cameras small
that has motion capture cameras small
that has motion capture cameras small little cubes that you can put on
little cubes that you can put on
little cubes that you can put on opposite sides of your living room those
opposite sides of your living room those
opposite sides of your living room those cubes track exactly where you are with
cubes track exactly where you are with
cubes track exactly where you are with your headset so once you put on your
your headset so once you put on your
your headset so once you put on your headset if
headset if
headset if you walk forward those cubes now up he
you walk forward those cubes now up he
you walk forward those cubes now up he just went forward better update that
just went forward better update that
just went forward better update that virtual environment and it does it all
virtual environment and it does it all
virtual environment and it does it all in real time what this is done is turned
in real time what this is done is turned
in real time what this is done is turned your living room into the game you can
your living room into the game you can
your living room into the game you can now move around in a virtual game and
now move around in a virtual game and
now move around in a virtual game and more dynamically interact with some of
more dynamically interact with some of
more dynamically interact with some of these characters and the controllers
these characters and the controllers
these characters and the controllers that you see in the picture here are
that you see in the picture here are
that you see in the picture here are also linked up to that virtual
also linked up to that virtual
also linked up to that virtual environment so you as you are in virtual
environment so you as you are in virtual
environment so you as you are in virtual reality you see your virtual hands and
reality you see your virtual hands and
reality you see your virtual hands and those controllers even have small little
those controllers even have small little
those controllers even have small little tactile sensors basically little
tactile sensors basically little
tactile sensors basically little vibration mechanisms in them so if
vibration mechanisms in them so if
vibration mechanisms in them so if there’s a little virtual dog that is
there’s a little virtual dog that is
there’s a little virtual dog that is jumping around at your feet you can bend
jumping around at your feet you can bend
jumping around at your feet you can bend over and pet that virtual dog your
over and pet that virtual dog your
over and pet that virtual dog your controller will vibrate this immersive
controller will vibrate this immersive
controller will vibrate this immersive experience has really been changed and
experience has really been changed and
experience has really been changed and accelerated to make it a much more
accelerated to make it a much more
accelerated to make it a much more realistic experience because of the
realistic experience because of the
realistic experience because of the advancement in the entertainment and
advancement in the entertainment and
advancement in the entertainment and social media industries we’re now at a
social media industries we’re now at a
social media industries we’re now at a place where we can start thinking about
place where we can start thinking about
place where we can start thinking about repurposing this technology to address
repurposing this technology to address
repurposing this technology to address human health challenges if you think
human health challenges if you think
human health challenges if you think back to the previous picture we
back to the previous picture we
back to the previous picture we researchers were long thinking about
researchers were long thinking about
researchers were long thinking about using this but the headset was too big
using this but the headset was too big
using this but the headset was too big and too bulky too expensive the headset
and too bulky too expensive the headset
and too bulky too expensive the headset you see in the pictures eight hundred
you see in the pictures eight hundred
you see in the pictures eight hundred bucks down from thirty seven thousand
bucks down from thirty seven thousand
bucks down from thirty seven thousand dollars six or short years ago it’s also
dollars six or short years ago it’s also
dollars six or short years ago it’s also portable comes in the size of about a
portable comes in the size of about a
portable comes in the size of about a briefcase so we’re no longer constrained
briefcase so we’re no longer constrained
briefcase so we’re no longer constrained of just being in the laboratory we can
of just being in the laboratory we can
of just being in the laboratory we can go to the patient we no longer have the
go to the patient we no longer have the
go to the patient we no longer have the burden of the burden of that patient
burden of the burden of that patient
burden of the burden of that patient coming to us so this opens up a whole
coming to us so this opens up a whole
coming to us so this opens up a whole new world of ways that we could
new world of ways that we could
new world of ways that we could virtually train people one of those ways
virtually train people one of those ways
virtually train people one of those ways that we started using virtual reality to
that we started using virtual reality to
that we started using virtual reality to retrain people is through showing an
retrain people is through showing an
retrain people is through showing an avatar on a projection screen and that
avatar on a projection screen and that
avatar on a projection screen and that avatars in a virtual environment and we
avatars in a virtual environment and we
avatars in a virtual environment and we control how that avatar walks and when
control how that avatar walks and when
control how that avatar walks and when the participant is walking on the
the participant is walking on the
the participant is walking on the treadmill we ask them to play the same
treadmill we ask them to play the same
treadmill we ask them to play the same game many of us played in kindergarten
game many of us played in kindergarten
game many of us played in kindergarten follow the leader
follow the leader
follow the leader so whatever that avatar does you do your
so whatever that avatar does you do your
so whatever that avatar does you do your best to mimic those motions and we’ve
best to mimic those motions and we’ve
best to mimic those motions and we’ve had stroke survivors come into the
had stroke survivors come into the
had stroke survivors come into the laboratory to participate in these
laboratory to participate in these
laboratory to participate in these experiments because stroke survivors
experiments because stroke survivors
experiments because stroke survivors commonly have an asymmetrical walking
commonly have an asymmetrical walking
commonly have an asymmetrical walking pattern one leg one leg
pattern one leg one leg
pattern one leg one leg lags behind the other sometimes and one
lags behind the other sometimes and one
lags behind the other sometimes and one of the goals of physical therapy is to
of the goals of physical therapy is to
of the goals of physical therapy is to make their walking patterns more
make their walking patterns more
make their walking patterns more symmetrical which helps reduce fall risk
symmetrical which helps reduce fall risk
symmetrical which helps reduce fall risk so we control that virtual environment
so we control that virtual environment
so we control that virtual environment we can make that avatar have an
we can make that avatar have an
we can make that avatar have an asymmetrical walking pattern but not
asymmetrical walking pattern but not
asymmetrical walking pattern but not quite as asymmetrical as the patient
quite as asymmetrical as the patient
quite as asymmetrical as the patient this gives that patient a visual
this gives that patient a visual
this gives that patient a visual prescription of what we want them to do
prescription of what we want them to do
prescription of what we want them to do but also an attainable behavior that
but also an attainable behavior that
but also an attainable behavior that they can slowly move their beat their
they can slowly move their beat their
they can slowly move their beat their pattern their walking patterns to toured
pattern their walking patterns to toured
pattern their walking patterns to toured as the patient gets better and becomes a
as the patient gets better and becomes a
as the patient gets better and becomes a little bit more symmetrical then we take
little bit more symmetrical then we take
little bit more symmetrical then we take that avatar and make it more symmetrical
that avatar and make it more symmetrical
that avatar and make it more symmetrical so it’s the carrot in front of the horse
so it’s the carrot in front of the horse
so it’s the carrot in front of the horse model where we’re always giving the
model where we’re always giving the
model where we’re always giving the patient and attainable task but we
patient and attainable task but we
patient and attainable task but we slowly bring them along to have them
slowly bring them along to have them
slowly bring them along to have them walk more symmetrical this is an example
walk more symmetrical this is an example
walk more symmetrical this is an example of the utility virtual reality we can
of the utility virtual reality we can
of the utility virtual reality we can make it do whatever we want to tailor
make it do whatever we want to tailor
make it do whatever we want to tailor our rehabilitation to the patient
our rehabilitation to the patient
our rehabilitation to the patient population of interest this opens up a
population of interest this opens up a
population of interest this opens up a world of possibilities for us to think
world of possibilities for us to think
world of possibilities for us to think about precise and individualized
about precise and individualized
about precise and individualized medicine for a variety of different
medicine for a variety of different
medicine for a variety of different populations another way that we’ve used
populations another way that we’ve used
populations another way that we’ve used virtual reality through this projection
virtual reality through this projection
virtual reality through this projection screen system is we’ve created virtual
screen system is we’ve created virtual
screen system is we’ve created virtual obstacles for the participants to step
obstacles for the participants to step
obstacles for the participants to step over and these are primarily for people
over and these are primarily for people
over and these are primarily for people who are at a higher risk of falling so
who are at a higher risk of falling so
who are at a higher risk of falling so we teach them to step over these virtual
we teach them to step over these virtual
we teach them to step over these virtual obstacles as they’re doing this training
obstacles as they’re doing this training
obstacles as they’re doing this training in virtual reality now these aren’t just
in virtual reality now these aren’t just
in virtual reality now these aren’t just virtual reality isn’t just useful in a
virtual reality isn’t just useful in a
virtual reality isn’t just useful in a physical rehabilitation context but can
physical rehabilitation context but can
physical rehabilitation context but can be used to address a wide range of human
be used to address a wide range of human
be used to address a wide range of human health challenges it’s been used to
health challenges it’s been used to
health challenges it’s been used to overcome phobias such as public speaking
overcome phobias such as public speaking
overcome phobias such as public speaking there are companies out there that have
there are companies out there that have
there are companies out there that have created mock-ups of auditoriums for
created mock-ups of auditoriums for
created mock-ups of auditoriums for people that have a phobia of speaking
people that have a phobia of speaking
people that have a phobia of speaking and for in public the public and then
and for in public the public and then
and for in public the public and then what they do is they put on the headset
what they do is they put on the headset
what they do is they put on the headset and have 200 avatar staring at you as
and have 200 avatar staring at you as
and have 200 avatar staring at you as you walk around this is a way to
you walk around this is a way to
you walk around this is a way to overcome that stressor it’s also been
overcome that stressor it’s also been
overcome that stressor it’s also been used in other areas such as veterans who
used in other areas such as veterans who
used in other areas such as veterans who have PTSD there’s a group that has
have PTSD there’s a group that has
have PTSD there’s a group that has created virtual Iraq and it’s for
created virtual Iraq and it’s for
created virtual Iraq and it’s for veterans that are part of an immersion
veterans that are part of an immersion
veterans that are part of an immersion therapy program
therapy program
therapy program in which they slowly get immersed back
in which they slowly get immersed back
in which they slowly get immersed back into virtual Iraq to desensitize them to
into virtual Iraq to desensitize them to
into virtual Iraq to desensitize them to that stressor so across a wide range of
that stressor so across a wide range of
that stressor so across a wide range of human health challenges virtual reality
human health challenges virtual reality
human health challenges virtual reality can be adopted to help address those
can be adopted to help address those
can be adopted to help address those problems now all of those examples that
problems now all of those examples that
problems now all of those examples that I described to you were primarily done
I described to you were primarily done
I described to you were primarily done in the research laboratory until
in the research laboratory until
in the research laboratory until recently but because we have these new
recently but because we have these new
recently but because we have these new affordable and portable systems we can
affordable and portable systems we can
affordable and portable systems we can now dream about getting out of the
now dream about getting out of the
now dream about getting out of the laboratory however there’s one missing
laboratory however there’s one missing
laboratory however there’s one missing piece here there’s one missing piece
piece here there’s one missing piece
piece here there’s one missing piece that if we ask someone to get better at
that if we ask someone to get better at
that if we ask someone to get better at the game and they do does that matter
the game and they do does that matter
the game and they do does that matter and the answer that is no I don’t really
and the answer that is no I don’t really
and the answer that is no I don’t really care if the patients that we’re working
care if the patients that we’re working
care if the patients that we’re working with get better in the game that’s not
with get better in the game that’s not
with get better in the game that’s not the end game for me the end game for our
the end game for me the end game for our
the end game for me the end game for our research team is does it transfer to the
research team is does it transfer to the
research team is does it transfer to the real world because if it doesn’t
real world because if it doesn’t
real world because if it doesn’t transfer that change in behavior doesn’t
transfer that change in behavior doesn’t
transfer that change in behavior doesn’t transfer to the real world then what are
transfer to the real world then what are
transfer to the real world then what are we doing and why are we doing it so
we doing and why are we doing it so
we doing and why are we doing it so there’s the next phase of experiments
there’s the next phase of experiments
there’s the next phase of experiments that have been looking at this
that have been looking at this
that have been looking at this retraining and virtual reality and then
retraining and virtual reality and then
retraining and virtual reality and then looking at transfer to real-world
looking at transfer to real-world
looking at transfer to real-world behavior in our lab and a number of
behavior in our lab and a number of
behavior in our lab and a number of other labs have looked at this and I’m
other labs have looked at this and I’m
other labs have looked at this and I’m happy to report to you that there are
happy to report to you that there are
happy to report to you that there are studies now showing that if we retrain
studies now showing that if we retrain
studies now showing that if we retrain you how to walk over virtual obstacles
you how to walk over virtual obstacles
you how to walk over virtual obstacles that transfers into how you walk over
that transfers into how you walk over
that transfers into how you walk over real obstacles and the real world so we
real obstacles and the real world so we
real obstacles and the real world so we now have a system where we can retrain
now have a system where we can retrain
now have a system where we can retrain behaviors in a very precise and specific
behaviors in a very precise and specific
behaviors in a very precise and specific way and in a safe way so that we can
way and in a safe way so that we can
way and in a safe way so that we can transfer it to the real world and
transfer it to the real world and
transfer it to the real world and ultimately reduce fall risk it also
ultimately reduce fall risk it also
ultimately reduce fall risk it also offers the opportunity to more dynamic
offers the opportunity to more dynamic
offers the opportunity to more dynamic research projects and when we ask people
research projects and when we ask people
research projects and when we ask people to do these more activities of daily
to do these more activities of daily
to do these more activities of daily living so in this case going back to the
living so in this case going back to the
living so in this case going back to the example of crossing the street this is a
example of crossing the street this is a
example of crossing the street this is a game that we created called human
game that we created called human
game that we created called human Frogger many of you may remember the old
Frogger many of you may remember the old
Frogger many of you may remember the old arcade game called Frogger where you had
arcade game called Frogger where you had
arcade game called Frogger where you had to get a frog across the street before
to get a frog across the street before
to get a frog across the street before he got run over by a car that’s an
he got run over by a car that’s an
he got run over by a car that’s an activity of daily living a lot of us
activity of daily living a lot of us
activity of daily living a lot of us probably did before we walked into this
probably did before we walked into this
probably did before we walked into this building but it’s a challenge
building but it’s a challenge
building but it’s a challenge J activity for a number of patient
J activity for a number of patient
J activity for a number of patient populations and so with human Frogger we
populations and so with human Frogger we
populations and so with human Frogger we put on a helmet we put you at this
put on a helmet we put you at this
put on a helmet we put you at this street intersection and your job is to
street intersection and your job is to
street intersection and your job is to cross the street now if a patient has a
cross the street now if a patient has a
cross the street now if a patient has a real challenge in walking we can make
real challenge in walking we can make
real challenge in walking we can make that a single lane road with a virtual
that a single lane road with a virtual
that a single lane road with a virtual car moving really slow but if it’s a
car moving really slow but if it’s a
car moving really slow but if it’s a more advanced patient then we can make
more advanced patient then we can make
more advanced patient then we can make an eight Lane superhighway and virtual
an eight Lane superhighway and virtual
an eight Lane superhighway and virtual cars going all over and said good luck
cars going all over and said good luck
cars going all over and said good luck okay so it gives us a really unique way
okay so it gives us a really unique way
okay so it gives us a really unique way to test functional capabilities and
to test functional capabilities and
to test functional capabilities and mobility across a variety of populations
mobility across a variety of populations
mobility across a variety of populations so where do we go from here I’ve taken
so where do we go from here I’ve taken
so where do we go from here I’ve taken you through the historical development
you through the historical development
you through the historical development of this and we’re right on the precipice
of this and we’re right on the precipice
of this and we’re right on the precipice of repurposing virtual reality to
of repurposing virtual reality to
of repurposing virtual reality to address human health challenges there’s
address human health challenges there’s
address human health challenges there’s an effort right now across the North
an effort right now across the North
an effort right now across the North Carolina system all the schools in the
Carolina system all the schools in the
Carolina system all the schools in the UNC system to link up the virtual
UNC system to link up the virtual
UNC system to link up the virtual reality labs that all are addressing
reality labs that all are addressing
reality labs that all are addressing human health challenges and these are
human health challenges and these are
human health challenges and these are folks in computer science and
folks in computer science and
folks in computer science and kinesiology and physical therapy and
kinesiology and physical therapy and
kinesiology and physical therapy and biomedical engineering and others we now
biomedical engineering and others we now
biomedical engineering and others we now have the ability to link up these labs
have the ability to link up these labs
have the ability to link up these labs so we can address human health
so we can address human health
so we can address human health challenges in a very unique and
challenges in a very unique and
challenges in a very unique and synergistic way and ultimately address
synergistic way and ultimately address
synergistic way and ultimately address human health challenges at the grandest
human health challenges at the grandest
human health challenges at the grandest level in ways that we’ve never thought
level in ways that we’ve never thought
level in ways that we’ve never thought about before so I ask you to consider
about before so I ask you to consider
about before so I ask you to consider participating in these experiments if
participating in these experiments if
participating in these experiments if you hear about them virtual reality is
you hear about them virtual reality is
you hear about them virtual reality is no longer this futuristic tool it’s here
no longer this futuristic tool it’s here
no longer this futuristic tool it’s here and the future of your health may rely
and the future of your health may rely
and the future of your health may rely on it thank you
”
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