VR4care: Gender-sensitive Virtual Reality Technologies and Semantic Content Categories for Activation in Nursing Homes

Abstract

People living in long-term care facilities due to physical or mental impairments have few opportunities for self-determined activity. Virtual reality (VR) technologies offer a potential to expand individual experience through immersive presence in artificial environments, to activate mentally and to promote autonomy through the impact of self-efficacy. The overall goal of the Austrian project VR4Care was to research design basics for the development of a motivating, gender-sensitive, personalized and cost-effective VR technology to increase the activation and quality of life primarily of residents in inpatient long-term care. In the further development of VR for senior citizens, gender-specific differences were taken into account, such as gender-specific requirements for user interfaces, gender-specific preferences in interests with regard to content and different expectations of support when using the VR-based system.