by Part of the beauty of 360º is that you can experience the world from any perspective you want. In the case of people who aren’t able to travel, play sports or go see their favorite rapper at a concert, 360º video can help make their dreams into a reality.
In a short by the Institute of Human Caring, we are told the story of Kevin Flores, a boy who despite being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis has an incomparable thirst for life. In searching for ways to give Kevin an outlet that combined his love of adventure and exploration, the Institute found a Virtual Reality program, used by astronauts, that allows him to simulate life on a Space Station. Of course, VR can’t cure the illness itself, but it can make a difference in how the affected deals with emotional stress and hopelessness that makes a terminal illness that much worse.
That difference can have a big impact on how people deal with their affliction. NASA astronaut Scott Parazynsky, who has much experience with NASA’s ISS, remarked at the wonder and joy with which Kevin Flores spoke of his experiences with the program: “When I go in there, I just forget about what I have and this condition,” says Kevin. “When you’re up there, you feel normal. You have no worries.”