Celine Balay and Ghazaleh Shahin collaborate in the Human-Computer Interaction Lab, where psychology meets computer science.
Your virtual reality (VR) headset powers on, and the lab dissolves into a simulated landscape.
You’re holding a golf club, and a ball sits on a putting green. The scene responds to your every step and turn.
Not since your stroke have you gripped with your left hand, but thanks to students at UBC Okanagan, VR or augmented reality (AR) could shape your recovery.
“Using AR and VR in our research allows us to create changing environments where patients can complete tasks that simulate real-world challenges, like golf,” says Celine Balay, a master’s student in psychology.
“These methods can boost traditional rehab by providing immediate feedback tailored to your needs. It also taps into the brain’s neuroplasticity—its ability to change—and may speed up recovery.”
UBC Okanagan’s commitment to interdisciplinary, experiential learning made connecting psychology and computer science possible. A casual, on-campus meeting between computer science researcher Dr. Pourang Irani and psychology professor Dr. Sarah Kraeutner led to the partnership. They realized quickly that their students could learn from and help each other’s work.
Read the full story here: UBC Okanagan News