March 2025 Community of Interest Highlights

The highlights from our recent CI gathering on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, are as follows: 

David Neumann, a professor at Humber Polytechnic, shares insight from his recent hackathon, which explores the use of spatial technologies such as VR and AR in therapy, enhancing quality of life, and potentially mitigating the effects of dementia in older adults. The initiative brings together students, faculty, industry partners, and aging experts to collaboratively brainstorm and critically assess these technologies from a human-centered perspective.

Participants also discussed the following areas. 

• AI can help visualize home renovations tailored to the needs of older adults. 

• Virtual humans and AI are being explored as tools to enhance dementia care and long-term care solutions. 

• Spatial virtual reality and AI are being developed to create meaningful, cost-effective experiences for aging populations. 

• VR can foster social connections in care homes by using virtual family interactions and creative activities. 

• Originally developed for gaming, VR and 3D modeling can be adapted to create personalized nostalgia experiences for aging individuals. 

The discussion underscored the importance of integrating technology like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and AI into various sectors to create holistic solutions that improve the quality of life for individuals, particularly in the context of home and healthcare environments. 

Please note: 

The upcoming Community of Interest (CI) gathering is set for noon from 12 to 1 pm on April 17, 2025. We extend an invitation to anyone eager to participate in this session.