Ryan Douglas’ Post

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Founder, Therapy Designer & Investor | Culture, Innovation & Positive Change

Motion and play combine for physical and emotional benefits. The use of motion in play, specifically video games, has been shown to provide both physical and emotional stress relief. When combined with the flow of engaging game play (distraction) and specific visual or auditory intereference, a powerful combined effect is possible. Studies have shown engaged play will reduce the perceived effort levels, allowing gamers to push further for increased physiological effects. At DeepWell DTx this has always been a consideration in our game design. While motion is not required for therapeutic benefit from a game, it is one of the surest ways to see immediate stress relief. The “grand daddy” of rhythmic based motion games is Beat Saber, and as this article shows, the benefits can be considerable. https://lnkd.in/gHxT9aMm

Playing "Beat Saber" virtual reality game might help improve cognitive abilities, study suggests

Playing "Beat Saber" virtual reality game might help improve cognitive abilities, study suggests

psypost.org

Ilya Gogin

Director of Product @ Pearson | Undercover Intrapreneur | Disobedient Innovator | Lifelong Educator | Emerging Tech in Education | AI & XR | Verbivore

3mo

Great to see research behind this. During the pandemic, playing VR games helped me overcome anxiety and symptoms of depression. I spent 30-60 minutes after work playing Thrill of the Fight and Supernatural (very similar to Beat Saber mechanics) - both very rhythmic and physical.

Kelly Bergeron

Virtual reality (XR, Spatial Computing) // Educational technologist // Community Leader

3mo

When I’m in my flow state in Supernatural, and there’s a great song playing, it’s the ultimate workout. The gamifying of fitness is such an added bonus. I used to be a competitive figure skater, so muscle memory helped me focus on power and stamina.

Emily Hatlelid

Biologist, Writer & Regulatory Consultant for AI based Robotic Medical Systems

3mo

This is information that can definitely be used to one’s advantage when exercising. I find that 45 minutes in Supernatural or Beat Saber feels like the mental equivalent of 5 treadmill minutes (only a slight exaggeration!). You get an incredible workout in but your brain doesn’t register the effort in the same way because it is super engaged - such a win!

Ed Forteau

Leader of the Genuine Connections Revolution | Helping Service Providers, Entrepreneurs, and Sales Professionals Build Authentic Relationships | Author of "No More Cringe” | Changing the Way We do Business on LinkedIn

3mo

Fascinating! I'm learning so much from you. I know that play is a stress reliever, but this is ADDITIONAL goodness.

Sandra Garrido, PhD

Award-winning Researcher | Expert in Music, Youth Mental health and Dementia care | Writer | Speaker | Founder of MoodyTunes and musicfordementia.com.au | Advocate for Arts in Health | STEMM Ambassador to Parliament

3mo

I have to admit that my two sons and I love Beat Saber. Very much looking forward to trying Zengence

VR gaming has taken motion based play to the next level and been thr subject of many studies showing enhanced mental and physical health benefits.

J Lang

Retired and Freely Pontificating

3mo

VR has brought so many new possibilities for therapeutic delivery. It is very interesting to think about how motion an distraction combine to build a stress reduction mechanism.

Rio E. M.

Applied Neuroscience | Psychology | Complex Systems Science

3mo

Beat Saber is my favourite VR game!

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