In the US, virtual reality experience aids kids with a parent behind bars

The shared, immersive experience will lead to improved communication, Ms Hollis said. Each virtual reality experience will be guided by a lesson plan and managed by state Department of Corrections staff, who will be able to adapt and customise the situations in real time. — Photo by stem.T4L on Unsplash

Kids are getting a better chance to bond with parents who are serving time behind bars thanks to virtual reality, a technology with rapidly expanding uses.

Uptown-based Amachi Pittsburgh, a non-profit that helps incarcerated parents better connect with their children, is piloting the use of virtual reality to improve communication among family members. In a first of its kind collaboration, the state Department of Corrections and Tempe, Arizona-based Wrap Technologies Inc are piloting use of the equipment, which allows 360° views of an imaginary world in two or three dimensions for shared adventures between kids and incarcerated mothers and fathers.