Virtual World Therapy

Earlier this month I wrote about Duke University using virtual worlds for therapy, and not  I see that another University, UT Dallas, is following suit. UT Dallas is using the virtual world experience to help individuals with Asperger's syndrome.

Unlike other models of intervention, virtual world experiences provide a powerful way to learn new and more appropriate ways to respond to people in scenarios similar to those faced everyday," said Dr. Sandra Chapman, director of the Center for Brain Health.

The virtual environment replicates real world social situations with greater accuracy and realism than staged encounters because in the virtual space the social interactions are real and not scripted. Moreover the virtual nature and visual interface helps individuals interact without fear or concerns of rejection.