Globetrotting with Wander

Recently, I re-traced the steps I used to take to elementary school. My school was on Long Island, and I was in California using Wander, a virtual reality application for the Meta Quest VR System. With Wander, you type in an address, which transports you via Google Street View to anywhere in the world. Once you arrive, you can move about in a limited way, and your view is 360 degrees, so, for example, when I reached North Jerusalem Road, I could look both ways before crossing, just as I did sixty years ago.

Improving Awareness. Wander triggers observational powers — the ability to sort and store information gathered by our senses — and people with Parkinson’s can benefit from it. Many Parkinson’s symptoms affect our observational powers: peripheral vision recedes, memory becomes erratic, walking gait slows, and pain or stiffness limits the movement of the head and limbs. These factors decrease awareness of our environment and affect spatial visualization increasing the chances of a fall or other mishap. My walk to elementary school reinforced my observational skills, and it flexed my long-term memories: there was the vacant lot where I lost my father’s Purple Heart, and there was the farmhouse that once seemed so scary. 

Standing or seated. If you stand while Wandering, you can also work on your balance. But there’s a caveat. Your view is from the camera perched above the Google car, and some users may feel as if they are balancing atop a truck bed. 

So, if you feel dizzy, sit down, preferably on a stool or swivel chair (to get the full 360 degrees), and switch the Meta Quest Guardian to Stationary. Wander is relatively uneventful, which is suitable for older users. 

The imagery is static, your immersive experience is relaxing, and there are no flying objects or rave music. A glitch in the program even has a calming effect; you must wait ever so slightly for the “photo spheres” to focus while moving down a street, forcing you to stroll rather than race. 

TIPS: Here are some suggested uses for Wanderers:

• Visit the sites seen in your favorite movies. Check out this site for the locations. 
• Prep yourself for trips by visiting the location beforehand. 
• Travel down memory lane by visiting sites from your past – -honeymoons, high schools, or birthplaces, 
• Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, stroll by the Louvre, or step inside the international space station. 
• Read the tutorial.
• Try out the speech recognition.

Also, know that the imagery can be dated. One location may be from 2018 and another from 2022. So, if you’re like my sister, you may be disappointed to see that Wander isn’t showing the most recent renovations of your home. (Below is an excerpt from my walk to school.)