Two entertainment firms are joining hands to present a virtual reality movie to senior citizens who are isolated by the present lockdowns imposed for controlling the spread of the Coronavirus. The flick is based on the Gospel of John and is named “7 Miracles”.
Due to COVID-19, a lot of senior living communities faced lockdown so that the virus does not harm the elderly. The partnership is between HTC VIVE, a VR platform, and MyndVR, a firm renowned for VR entertainment for seniors. Benedictine, a non-profit senior care provider’s CEO, Jerry Carley, was the first entity to present “7 Miracles” to its senior citizens.
Carley recently made an announcement and said that MyndVR allows their people to connect with the Gospel of John in a meaningful manner. He also said that from feeding the multitudes to healing the sick boy, virtual reality is a unique way to bring the sculpture to life.
MyndVR’s CEO, Chris Brickler, said to The Christian Post that he was fortunate to be collaborating with HTC VIVE and termed them as the most advanced VR firm. Brickler also mentioned that HTC VIVE invited them into an extremely exclusive program, VIVE X, to support startups, like their company, with funding along with content and technical resources. Brickler thinks that what further attracted them to HTC was their commitment to enhancing people’s lives through VR in several wellness and healthcare settings.
Brickler also said that his company was already taking the film’s orders and that they were surpassing their projections. Brickler mentioned that they engaged the spiritual leadership groups with various faith-based communities, and it has resulted in overwhelming feedback. Brickler described this initiative as an extremely creative way to adapt the scripture to VR technology. The MyndVR’s founder also cited an instance when Jesus feeds the multitudes, and says that his viewers get quite immersed in such an experience.
His firm focuses on offering VR entertainment for older adults, providing experiences that range from music and arts with Disney to educational programming like National Geographic. The firm states that its offerings can present quality of life and mental health benefits. They have also posted digital testimonials from clients who are utilizing the products.
The Blakeford CEO, Brian Barnes, has mentioned a case where an Alzheimer’s patient displayed character traits she possessed before her diagnosis, like singing, dancing, and smiling. He also talked about another person who felt relief from Parkinson’s symptoms, and that, overall, the response was pretty impressive.
World Evangelical Alliance’s former secretary-general, Geoff Tunnicliffe, praised the “7 Miracles” movie. Tunnicliffe, who had co-founded Oikos International, talked about the Wedding at Cana and the finely dressed guests, eating, drinking, dancing, and laughing. Tunnicliffe then spoke about the impact of virtual reality on religious practices and mentioned that he believes this unique technology will enhance the whole thing and not detract from it.
He concluded that irrespective of where technology might take people, what will remain the same is the fact that God had created and redeemed humans. God knows where people are heading, and he is present there.
