In his blog my colleague Adam Montandon (HMC Interactive) draws attention to a truly life changing project currently being undergone at the Keio University in Japan. The project headed by Professor Junichi Ushiba, allows severe paralysis patients to take to the virtual world of Second Life, controlling their avatar via electrodes. They are able to… experience many new opportunities: business, shopping, making new friends, and ‘chance encounters’. The latter is particularly interesting. According to Prof. Ushiba:

“In ordinary life you go shopping and you might just happen to see a jacket you like and buy it, or the cover of a book might catch your eye. Sometimes you chat with people you just happen to run into, this kind of chance encounter could enrich people’s lives.”

So for patients that are immobilized by illness or injury, virtual life provides this random element. This impressive research into the benefits of virtual worlds to enhance the lives of these patients is very impressive.