Monday, October 20, 2014

Opportunity to Participate in Medical Research

Please consider joining Virtual Ability®, Inc. and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in a national (US) healthcare research project. This project goes from 2013-2016 and uses the power of Second Life® to reach out to participants.

You are invited to consider volunteering. We are looking for US adults over age 21, with at least three months of Second Life experience. We particularly are seeking physicians and other clinicians who are in Second Life. We also have openings for people with disabilities and people without disabilities in this very innovative project. Those who have participated so far have reported that it's been a fun and educational experience.

Find out more by going to Healthcare Equitability


Sunday, May 06, 2012

Health Literacy in Virtual Worlds Study

PRESENTER: Evelyn McElhinney (Second Life Avatar: Kali Pizzaro)
Tuesday May 8, 2012 11:30am PDT
Research Pavilion, Healthinfo Island, Second Life

McElhinney is doing her PhD study on "Health literacy/Health information skills of people who access health information in 3D virtual worlds and the influence on real life health behaviour." Her research is ethical/IRB passed.

The purpose of her study is to better understand how people seek out, understand and use health information found in virtual worlds and if it influences real life health behaviour.

At this presentation in Second Life, McElhinney will be recruiting study participants who have accessed health information in a 3D virtual world. The health information could be in any form - a talk from a healthcare practitioner, a support group, a quiz, therapy info presented by sign or notecard, or any other way.

McElhinney will explain the details of the study and answer any questions you may have.  A  notecard giver with the information will also be available so you can take it and think about whether you wish to participate, then contact her later.

Presenter Bio: Evelyn McElhinney is Registered Nurse and Registered Nurse Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. She is also a Doctoral Student (part time) at Glasgow Caledonian University. She was in clinical practice for 13 years and has been full time at the University for 6 years. She has presented at national and international conferences and published in peer reviewed journals.

Presented simultaneously in voice and text.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Digital Life & Wellness Survey in Second Life

PRESENTER: Avatar Name: Katherine Cunningham
Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 1 pm PST
Research Pavilion, Healthinfo Island, Second Life

This presentation will discuss study specifics of the Digital Life & Wellness Survey conducted by RTI International. Topics of discussion include the purpose of the study, eligibility requirements, and what participants can expect if asked to participate. This presentation will also include information about study participant's rights, the risks and benefits of participating in this study, how RTI International will protect participant's information, and what RTI International expects to do with these findings. The presentation is expected to last 15-20 minutes, followed by time for questions/answers. 

Qualified participants earn L$1000. Qualified participants will have or once have had cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, or other chronic conditions.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

From HealthInfo Island; To Second Life Medical Library 2.0

Today I handed over several HealthInfo Island social media accounts and tools over to Virtual Ability, Inc, in person to Gentle Heron and Eme Capalini.
 

This includes the HealthInfo Island Blog, and
All data, posts, photo's and videos from HealthInfo Island's history will also be archived to the Second Life Medical Library 2.0

HealthInfo Island is owned by Virtual Ability, Inc.

Virtual Ability, Inc. is a non-profit corporation based in Colorado, USA.  Their mission is to enable people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in online virtual worlds like Second Life®.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

"Mental" disabilities: social and educational issues : notes and extra info

Note: this page presents working notes for a presentation to be given on Jan 5.  Since these are working notes in progress, some contents will probably change.  

Health Info Island

Segmented lecture-discussion format


The segments (six)  are as indicated in the notes below.  I will give a brief (about 8 minutes) summary of the past and current state of each issue, then host a discussion for about 15 minutes.  The reason I chose this format will be apparent in the discussions.  
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During the presentation, I will have  a BOP* poster (instead of a slide show) nearby.  I will also have a poster-giver with a web link for those using a viewer that lacks  BOP capability.  
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*BOP = Browser on Prim
Prologue
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Part of the "Waiting on the World (to Change)" series hosted byVirtual Ability.
UN Enable; Priority Themes
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"Waiting for Godot" 
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Terms and concepts as I will use them
  • Mental illness:  Non- technical term applied to serious disorders that present* as behavioral problems.  *All  behavior is generated by the brain, including that attributed to "the mind"
  • Disabiliy: A serious limitation imposed by some physical condition.  Note that "serious" here is defined by circumstances.
****************
"Mental" disabilities: social and educational issues
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Notes
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Segment 1. The major mental disorders "Psychoses"

Saturday, January 07, 2012

The Ann Myers Medical Center : A fresh start a new year, good intentions

Group Notice From: The Ann Myers Medical Center, Vera Zhaoying Ha all A fresh start a new year, good intentions :-) a workshop about good intentions and new years resolutions!!! On a location called Virtual Ability first, then on to AMMC, where your avatar is tested but you are spoken to, yes you behind the keyboard!! Curious?? Do pay attention to follow up messages! (January14 at 10 AM)

No more mop buckets: Profitably employing people with disabilities in real positions

No more mop buckets: Profitably employing people with disabilities in real positions PRESENTER: Jason Pace (SL: Hydra Shaftoe) SUN Jan 8, 11 am SLT Sojourner Auditorium The nuts and bolts of how a business can employ people with mental disabilities (focus on the autism spectrum) in profitable roles. A gritty, realistic session exploring the benefits and minuses of hiring such people, and ways of utilizing the special gifts of autism while minimizing the impact of the negatives.

Thursday, January 05, 2012

"Mental" disabilities: Social and educational issues : presentation on Exhibit 5

"Mental" disabilities: Social and educational issues
Presented by: Dr. Selby Evans  (Thinkerer Melville in SL)
THURS Jan 5, 7 am SLT
Exhibit 5, Healthinfo Island

•    the major mental disorders or psychoses
•    “ethnogenic” disabilities (conditions seen as disabilities as a result of cultural circumstances)
•    experience-based disorders
•    addictions
•    developmental disorders
•    what to do while we wait for the world to change





http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/25/60/32


This presentation consists of six segments. First, a presentation about major mental disorders. 
Next, a discussion about "ethnogenic" disabilities, which are conditions seen as a disability as 
a result of cultural circumstances, followed by experience-based disorders. Information is also
offered on addictions and developmental disorders. 
The presentation concludes with ideas of what to do while we wait for the world to change.


Presenter Bio:
Selby Evans is a retired Professor of Psychology at Texas Christian University. He taught courses in psychological measurement, computer applications, and systematic problem-solving. A published author, he has conducted research in pattern perception, and studies of cognitive systems, supported by U. S. military organizations, NASA, National Institutes of Health, and other government organizations.