# Memory-Boosting Bike Simulators BikeAround Uses Google Street View to Assist People with Dementia By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-10-05 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bikearound References: [digitalbuzzblog](http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/google-bikearound-street-view-for-alzheimers-day/) & [blog.google](https://www.blog.google/products/maps/ride-remember-world-alzheimers-day/) BikeAround is a system that uses a [stationary bike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fit-bike-s) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-gut), describes that: "Scientists think this kind of pairing produces dopamine in the brain and has the potential to affect [memory management](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sumemory) 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 52% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Seniors](https://www.trendhunter.com/seniors) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Spatial Video Exercise Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holobike.md) - [Immersive Memory Loss Simulators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lost-in-the-world.md) - [Realistic Riding Exercise Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muoverti-tilt-indoor-smart-bike.md) - [Customizable Senior E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hase-bikes-trigo-up-e.md) - [Memory-Based Virtual Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/museum-of-memories.md) - [Elderly Exercise Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/physiopedal.md) - [VR-Enabling Exercise Attachments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/360vrfit.md) - [Metaverse-Ready Exercise Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dets-bike-pro.md) - [Homing Compasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/het-kompas.md)