Why People Engage In A Virtual Environment

Occupations are intrinsic to human health and well-being. There are many factors that play a role in how, where, and why people engage in occupations. The occupations people engage in often emerge from environmental opportunities, cultures, and are ultimately shaped by the context in which they occur (Thompson & Kent, 2014). Environments can shape occupational participation and help provide appropriate services for clients to promote occupational performance. There is a direct correlation between a person and the environment (Beagan, 2015). The way a person’s life intertwines with the dimensions of culture and environment can be positive or negative, due to barriers or opportunities they are afforded. Occupational therapists work with people to address these barriers and help people overcome or adapt. This paper will discuss the importance of the interrelationship between the …show more content…
Virtual reality technologies have become increasingly prevalent in occupational therapy practice because of its ability to create “seemingly real” environments that provide patients with opportunities to engage in meaningful, purposeful occupations (Weiss, Naveh & Katz, 2003). The virtual environment gave individuals with unilateral spatial neglect, true-to-life situations when crossing the street that would otherwise be inaccessible to them because of their motor limitations (Weiss, Naveh & Katz, 2003). The ability to grade task difficulty, change the virtual environment, and modify it based on the individual’s capabilities are only some of important benefits of virtual environments (Weiss, Naveh & Katz, 2003). The benefits of virtual environments are only beginning to be studied, but it is clear that it has enormous growth potential in the field of health