BikeAround is a system that uses a stationary bike and Google Street View to take dementia patients on virtual bike ride down a road they have visited in the past.
While it is a challenge for many elderly people with Alzheimer’s to recall some memories, BikeAround has the ability to assist people by transporting them back to a certain place in time. By pairing mental and physical stimulation with images of places that feels familiar, Anne-Christine Hertz, Manager at Health Technology Centre of Halland, describes that: "Scientists think this kind of pairing produces dopamine in the brain and has the potential to affect memory management in a profound way."
As well as serving as a system to aid with memory and spatial awareness, BikeAround also has the potential to provide stimulating physical and mental exercise for the elderly in a safe way.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Virtual Reality Therapy
- BikeAround's use of Google Street View to assist dementia patients with memory and spatial awareness presents an opportunity for the development of more virtual reality-based treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Personalized Exercises
- BikeAround's ability to take patients down memory lane provides an opportunity for the development of personalized exercises that cater to the individual's memories, possibly leading to more effective cognitive therapy.
- Technology Assisted Physical Therapy
- BikeAround's virtual bike ride is a unique form of physical therapy that utilizes technology and presents an opportunity for the development of technology-assisted physical therapy programs for elderly and disabled patients.
Where This Applies
- Healthcare
- BikeAround's innovative technology presents an opportunity for the healthcare industry to develop new treatments and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
- Fitness
- BikeAround's safe and stimulating approach to physical and mental exercise presents an opportunity for the fitness industry to cater to elderly and disabled clients in need of low-impact exercise.
- Virtual Reality
- BikeAround's use of Google Street View to provide a virtual bike ride presents an opportunity for the virtual reality industry to develop more innovative and immersive experiences for therapeutic and entertainment purposes.
