Discovering Extended Reality: a fresh canvas to reconfigure brush strokes for equity

By Mike Hanrahan,
Musician, writer and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health

Back again in Oxford. Hard to believe it took so little time to return to this beautiful city of stone. Only a few weeks ago, in July, I was here for the Global Atlantic Fellows Annual Convening where I met more than 160 Fellows who, like me, had completed one of the seven Atlantic Fellows programs in the past year. The Atlantic Institute hosted the convening so we could all meet in one place, and across our diversity and various skill sets we could pool our ideas and begin thinking about putting into action to advance equity.

I spent hours wandering around Oxford’s cobbled streets, soaking in the history and grandeur of this academic wonderland. On my first day, I met my friend, Atlantic Fellow Laura Booi, a brain health consultant and senior research fellow at the Centre for Dementia at Leeds Beckett University. She suggested I connect with Deepa Mann-Kler, the current XR (Extended Reality) lead at the XR Lab at Rhodes House where the Institute is based. What an inspirational suggestion this turned out to be. I now know that Extended Reality is an umbrella term for all immersive technologies. Within a few minutes of our hallway conversation, Deepa invited me to visit the Lab the following morning and meet with Richard Smith, the XR specialist.

There, I watched two incredibly powerful videos and knew instinctively that this emerging technology could support and enhance my book of short stories on dementia. Although some of my stories are not yet written down, the characters live in my head every day, as real as life itself. “What if the world could one day see them as I imagine them right now in Extended Reality, 360 degrees, in full glow? That would be cool,” I thought.

Within a week of returning home to Dublin, I received an invitation to return to participate in an XR Health Residency run by Atlantic Institute, curated by Deepa and Richard. I would stay at Kopanong, the Atlantic Fellows residence, with seven other Fellows from the four corners of the world.  The name “Kopanong” translates from the African Sesotho language as a “meeting place or where people are invited.”’

Kopanong is a home-from-home for visiting Fellows and I received a warm welcome from those already settled in. It welcomes strangers from far-distant lands with divergent thoughts and opinions. Here we were as kindred spirits, our respective worlds juxtaposed in extended reality.

Rhodes House is an impressive place albeit with an undeniably complex history. To my surprise, I felt my own Irish heritage wrestle within its walls. I was not expecting such an emotional reaction, but I now understand why this space can be challenging for many who carry the generational scars of imperialism. At its core, Rhodes House embodies education, understanding and reconciliation. I get a sense though that it grapples with echoes of its own past as it embraces its determination to move forward. That sentiment was acknowledged in many discussions I had during my time there.

At the XR Lab, our days were filled with wonder and awe as we explored the frontiers of emerging technology in health care, dementia care and well-being. We learned of its potential to promote global tolerance and equity. We viewed a wide variety of immersive treatment sessions where participants don headsets and are transported into simulated environments specific to their needs. We learned how brainwave sensor technology and interactive content engages and develops our minds. It was astonishing to see how the Virtual Reality experience creates extraordinary, uplifting memories for those living with dementia, how developing VR solutions are used for virtual sedation of patients undergoing painful medical procedures, in clinical training for health care workers, and how it helps those with learning disabilities, anxiety disorder, pain management, post-traumatic stress, autism, addiction and in rehabilitation for brain injuries.

It was both a privilege and a challenge to experience many of the solutions. “Missing 10 Hours”, a pioneering venture led by Fanni Fazakas, was a standout interactive experience where you are a bystander at a virtual party, witnessing the use of GHB (date rape drugs). Every scene presents an ethical dilemma, forcing you to consider whether you are an active or passive bystander. Your actions have consequences. This work is a powerful tool in education and awareness, particularly for our younger generations. XR  is an impressive addition to the creative arts in health care and well-being, and I like that it can be tailored to individual needs.

The industry acknowledges its challenges. It is currently prohibitive to many because of the cost and has limited content but judging from the genuine passion of those who presented at this workshop, these difficulties will soon dissipate and, as with all developing technology, accessibility and content choice will only increase. I am excited about its future, and I look forward to learning more and hopefully, one day creating my own XR project.

Meanwhile, back at Kopanong, I was delighted to accept the invitation to cook for my new friends. Unfortunately, high-tech induction cooking does not work well for an old-timer chef like me but my much younger tech-savvy friends helped me master its complicated operational system. They also helped to create an incredible international feast of friendship. I even learned how to cook authentic African Chachalaca. The kitchen was abuzz with chopping, slicing, boiling, sautéing and laughter. The table was so beautifully prepped for our special gathering, a truly gratifying experience.

I will remember my time at Oxford as I continue my journey to help fight the stigma of dementia and promote better awareness of creative arts in health care. I found a fresh canvas here, a space to reconfigure the brush strokes that have patterned my journey from a simple song written for my mother who lived with dementia, to where I am today, working together with my extended family of incredible friends who strive every day for equity in all aspects of life and living. I sadly leave the city of stone and this beautiful house of ghosts with its creaky floorboards and glorious energy, but I sense it will not be a long goodbye. I will return soon.

My journey continues…

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Links

https://www.missing10hours.com/

https://vrtherapies.co.uk/team/

https://www.softcarestudios.com/

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