Dr. Cialdini’s keynote session at APA 2021 discusses how to further “up” your persuasion game, even before you’ve launched your pitch.  What exactly is pre-suasion? Cialdini: It’s what occurs in the moment before your message is sent that inclines people to say ‘yes’ to it, even though they have not yet experienced it.  You arrange to change the mindset of the people who will receive your message before they do, so that it’s aligned with your message. Then they’ll be ready for it in a way that research shows leads to more assent.

Technology innovation such as virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics and AI have the potential to broaden how people live. Because of COVID19, we are experiencing a new set of rules and it requires a new relationship with technology. There is a huge opportunity for technology during this worldwide pandemic and it is my hope and expectation that innovation will help improve the human experience.

Dr. Durnell is part of the WHO’s Roster of Experts who are involved in various areas related to digital health, such as strategic approaches, areas for intervention and governance structures for regulations and adoption of digital health solutions and products.  Members have an understanding and experience working in digital health, national or large scale digital health programs and policy, artificial intelligence and health, virtual and augmented reality in healthcare, biomedical innovation, robotic surgery, wearable technologies and health and wellness, traceability (e.g.

A digital healthcare revolution is changing the human experience. Virtual reality (VR) or immersive technology is creating a significant leap in the health and wellbeing space—transforming healthcare by leveraging technology. The therapeutic use of VR can assist us in living the good life—the healthy life. Technology used in this way may hold the key to teaching us how to deconstruct fear and anxiety—the experience of suffering—and enhance our wellbeing. Because VR can evoke a cognitive state, researchers are measuring the behavioral responses.

Medicine promises to become the biggest vertical market for the use of VR.  Recent research has demonstrated that VR is changing healthcare outcomes by structuring it—by augmenting it—by replacing it. Dr. Durnell discusses how advances in virtual reality are changing patient results.