Immersive Media and the Social EntrepreneurThe world has gone mobile ushering in new and powerful forms of real time media. A few years ago, the most basic mobile devices displayed data improving the lives and economic well-being of farmers in rural Africa and South America. In Appalachia, people suffering from diabetes uploaded health data immediately improving the delivery of health service. Examples abound. Today, Augmented Reality and immersive technologies makes it possible to add value to natural and created environments, changing our understanding of media influence.

Durnell's research poster presentation is on "Viewing a Crisis In VR:  A Different Approach to Behavioral Change."   This symposium will include discussions of virtual and augmented reality innovations and resources that are most likely to change the field including, but not limited to: emerging therapies and devices, impactful combinations of existing treatments with virtual reality, and models for how clinicians may collaborate on these innovations with computer scientists and engineers.

Research team at UC Berkeley found that micro moments of positive interaction with others and kindness (other oriented behavior) can have an effect on people's cellular functioning.  Specifically, their overall cellular health.  

Durnell's talk from the Virtual World Society Track at AWE USA 2017 - the largest conference for AR+VR in Santa Clara, California May 31- June 2, 2017.

VR can open new possibilities for human communication and profound behavioral change.  We are at a tipping point in technology—a new type of experience.  Regardless if we are tethered or untethered with devices—VR will be a critical technology and fundamental to the experiences in people’s lives.