Could virtual reality training be effective for enhancing empathetic behaviours in disability support worker training.

Purpose: This position paper aims to: (1) summarise the current state of the Australian disability support sector and its need to advance training practices that enhance empathetic behaviours; (2) Highlight how virtual reality technology is currently being deployed in training in the sector; and (3) highlight challenges that may arise from a lack of user acceptance testing and user experience design considerations, and why future studies are needed to explore these factors.

Background: The disability support industry has responded to new market demands for DSWs to provide quality supports that take a client-centred approach. To achieve this, some disability service providers have turned to virtual reality.

Informing Streetscape Design with Citizen Perceptions of Safety and Place: An Immersive Virtual Environment E-Participation Method.

As our cities grow, it is important to develop policies and streetscape designs that provide pedestrians with safe comfortable walking conditions and acknowledge the challenges involved in making urban places feel liveable and safe while understanding the critical role of streets around busy destinations. To understand these challenges at a nuanced, human level, new methods of citizen engagement are needed. This paper outlines the development and application of a new citizen perception collection method, using immersive virtual environments (IVE), coupled with an interactive emoji affective activation-pleasure grid and digital slider elements, embedded within an online e-participation survey to quantify, and rank the impact of individual (single-variable) urban design elements and safe system treatments on pedestrians' perceptions of safety and place.

Perceived Safety Influencing Active Travel to School-A Built Environment Perspective.

Despite the many research studies on active school travel (AST), the number of children walking/cycling to school is decreasing as there is a lack of implementable research evidence. This review through database searches from 2000 to 2020 aims to identify research gaps and explore new perspectives. The articles are selected and screened methodically for systematic presentation of the review.

User-centred iterative design of a smartwatch system supporting spontaneous reminiscence therapy for people living with dementia.

Reminiscence therapy is beneficial for improving the quality of life for older adults living with dementia. However, it is difficult for caregivers in care homes to make this part of their daily practice because remembering a resident's individual stories is difficult. Proximity-aware technologies can make rapid connections between residents, their histories, and nearby artefacts.

User-Centered Value Specifications for Technologies Supporting Chronic Low-Back Pain Management.

Low-back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability globally. It is complex and multifactorial, with a miriad of factors interwining and interacting to burden healthcare and individuals. Self-management support is central as part of best-practice to improve outcomes.