HEALTH AND WELLBEING
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STAYING WELL With all this in mind, the AV industry can develop solutions better informed by research. By combining circadian lighting and virtual soundscapes with a myriad of other sensory stimulants, AV-based installations and specialised environments address and promote stress management, mindfulness and biological wellbeing. Some companies are already doing this. Select MGM hotels, for example, offer Stay Well rooms which include ‘evidence-based wellness features’ – such as circadian bathroom lighting, a dawn simulator and immersive soundscapes – to reduce jet lag and promote relaxation. Launched post-pandemic by Roe Visual founder Jason Lu, Cecoceco designs installations with its Artmorph wall panels. Made from natural elements, these high-resolution LED panels come in a range of textures, are easy to install and suit any environment – whether it’s a company lobby, a cultural space, a restaurant or a hotel room. Able to project virtually any image – such as ocean waves, birds in flight or flora and fauna, all featured as inspirations on the Cecoceco website – Artmorph panels are essentially unlimited in scope and undoubtedly capable of contributing to wellness by connecting us with the natural world.
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER There’s a strong link between wellbeing and social attachment. As intrinsically community-orientated creatures, we rely on each other for support, and social isolation can lead to loneliness and poor mental health. Accelerated by the pandemic, hybrid work and school are the new norm. Video calls have largely replaced the traditional face-to-face meetings, while emails and instant messages continue to prove efficient means of communication. However, video conferencing tools aren’t restricted to corporate and educational applications; they can also play a role in counselling and medicine. In several instances, a doctor-patient visit via video will suffice (this is sometimes referred to as telehealth), particularly if the appointment is a simple consultation. Similarly, counsellors and therapists can meet with their patients virtually and conduct sessions over video. Just as remote work has its benefits, remote medicine does, too. For patients with limited mobility or means of transport, telehealth is especially useful. It also means that – depending on the capture area – patients have access to a wider net of medical professionals. Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Ringcentral and Doxy.me are just some of many software platforms which help make telehealth possible.
LOW-RISK REHAB Virtual reality (VR) takes remote healthcare even further. In cases of exposure therapy, for example, a patient is (safely) exposed to the source of their fear or anxiety until they overcome it. By adding VR to the equation, the exposure is more realistic – thus hopefully more impactful – but just as safe. VR headsets have also been used in a variety of rehab scenarios. Virtual Rehab – a company that specialises in exactly this – offers ‘psychological rehabilitation for vulnerable populations’, according to its website, including those with a mental or neurological disorder such as depression, autism or substance use. Scientists have published several studies on VR, highlighting its ability to mimic life-like situations, thus tricking the brain – almost like a placebo effect. Therefore, it is an effective tool (Virtual Rehab’s overall solution boasts an 88% efficacy rate) in pain management, prevention of relapse, enhancement of social skills and rehabilitation of repeat offenders. Prisoners can struggle to reacclimatise to society after serving their sentence, and there’s often a relatively high risk of reincarceration in both the US and UK. VR can help prevent this through presenting prisoners with fictionalised scenarios where they can ‘play’ the victim, face tough choices, learn from mistakes and pick up valuable life skills.
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