University of Minnesota Libraries newsletter reports on something fun to think about on a Friday. I always liked school, but just imagine what it would be like to be a student today…

Technology is advancing, and so is occupational therapy.

Students in Dr. Tamara Vos-Draper’s OT 7541 course, Assistive Technology and Orthotics in OT Practice, visited the Virtual Reality Studio and Makerspace in the Health Sciences Library this spring to examine how emerging technologies like virtual reality and 3D printing will shape the future of occupational therapy.

Virtual Reality programming lead Charlie Heinz and media outreach librarian Scott Spicer led students in exploring a variety of virtual reality experiences and their potential uses in clinical practice. Job Simulator, for example, is a quirky game about robots emulating humanity; it could also be an engaging way for patients to reestablish gross and fine motor movement. YouTube 360 allows users to immerse themselves in faraway environments, which could be a powerful tool for patients who are unable to travel. Other software, like Enscape, takes 3D architectural models and translates them into the virtual reality space, and simulated environments could be assessed for accessibility before being physically built.