Published By: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10/11/2016

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Summary

Through the use of VR (Virtual Reality), scientists seek to lower the cost and increase the availability of mental health care. They use VR technologies to help patients overcome their fears in a safe environment, by creating simulated situations that reproduce their fears. The availability of this treatment is increasing due to the lower costs of VR devices. The success of the VR experiments might potentially lead to higher quality and more accessible mental health care.

Extended Discussion Questions

• What are some of the ways Virtual Reality helps improve mental health for patients? Can you think of any ways it might harm the mental health of patients?
• In the article, Dr. Greg Wadley states that the use of Virtual Reality will not replace the need for psychologists. However, Virtual Reality will have some advantages over seeing a psychologist. What are some of those advantages? What are the disadvantages?
• How does the research on medical use of Virtual Reality demonstrate that advances in computing as an enabling technology have stimulated creativity in other fields?

Relating This Story to the CSP Curriculum Framework

Global Impact Learning Objectives:

• LO 7.1.1 Explain how computing innovations affect communication, interaction, and cognition.
• LO 7.2.1 Explain how computing has impacted innovations in other fields.
• LO 7.3.1 Analyze the beneficial and harmful effects of computing.

Global Impact Essential Knowledge:

• EK 7.2.1G Advances in computing as an enabling technology have generated and increased the creativity in other fields.

Other CSP Big Ideas:

• Idea 1 Creativity

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