Second Life
Background:
Second Life, a virtual metaverse, was created by Linden Labs in 2001 and is defined by its creator as a “3D world, imagined, created and owned by its residents.” This virtual environment thrives on the interactions of real world individuals and their CGI residents or avatars. The avatars interact with people, businesses and organizations in a 3D environment. There are currently 7.5 million residents in Second Life.
The Center for Connected Health recognizes Second Life as a new, unique, and rich communications medium that deserves attention and research.
Research Overview:
This research program combines the spaces of wellness and virtual worlds. The aim of this program is to determine whether the Relaxation Response (RR), designed by the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, can be successfully taught using the medium Second Life. Research in stress reduction treatment has revealed positive physical and mental benefits to patients. The approach was first described by Dr. Herbert Benson in the early 1970s. The physiological effect of treatments is characterized by decreased oxygen consumption, diminished heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
Second Life also appears to be a good fit for applying RR in a virtual world, as it addresses the geographical and cost constraints that can be associated with stress reduction therapies. By adapting a face-to-face protocol for the Relaxation Response to fit Second Life, we will measure the effects of teaching the response in a virtual environment.
The study will recruit between 20 and 40, healthy, in-world Second Life users. The participants will be taught to elicit the Relaxation Response within Second Life. Pre and post testing of quality of life instruments and symptom monitoring will be compared before and after the study.
Enrollment Update:
The Second Life Project Team has begun enrolling patients in their eight week program. If you are able to travel to downtown Boston, interested in learning about stress reduction techniques and enjoy using Second Life, you may be a perfect candidate for our study!
This study involves teaching the Relaxation Response within Second Life. The Relaxation Response is a form of stress reduction therapy.
The eight week study, which commences on Tuesday July 8th, comprises 8, 60 to 90 minute Relaxation Response training sessions in Second Life. These sessions will be held weekly on Tuesday’s at 6:00 PM on Connected Health Island.
All participants will receive a Razer Pirana headset to be used in the study and kept after the study ends. Additionally, study participants will be given $20 toward travel expenses to the Massachusetts General Hospital. The study does not involve any medication or blood draws.
If you are interested in participating, please send an email to RRSLStudy@partners.org or call 617-732-9747. You may also IM our in world contact, Halton Alsop.