“Evaluation of a Virtual Reality-based Buffet to Address Challenges in Health Research and Practice” by Fortney and Persky
Conference:
Type(s):
Entry Number: 21
Title:
- Evaluation of a Virtual Reality-based Buffet to Address Challenges in Health Research and Practice
Presenter(s)/Author(s):
Abstract:
The Immersive Virtual Environment Testing Area (IVETA) is a behavioral science laboratory offering tools and expert support for virtual reality (VR)-based health research at the National Institutes of Health.We design VR tools to tackle methodological and communication challenges in the domain of health research and practice, with a specialty in genomics. One of our most useful VR tools is a custom virtual reality application intended to simulate a buffet food choice experience in a typical cafeteria setting.
Food choice practices are a crucial research topic, but it remains difficult to assess as few methods exist to measure choices and their nutritional content accurately in real-time. The simulation is typically used to conduct experiments on child feeding, involving parents of children between the ages of 3 and 7. Participants walk freely around the buffet, navigating food choices in an environment designed specifically to fit in the bounds of our lab space.
Keyword(s):
- IVETA
- behavioral science
- virtual reality
- simulation
- virtual buffet
- genomics
- GxE
- food choice
- child feeding
- environment
- VR