Abstract
Metaverse technology has shown promising impacts on various fields, including the health and medical industry. While its impact on mental health is well established, its effects on physical health and family relationships require further investigation. One recognized impact associated with the use of metaverse technology on physical health is cybersickness which may become a limitation. Furthermore, the effect of metaverse technology on family dynamics seems to need further exploration. Therefore, this paper aims to study the impact of metaverse technology on diverse parameters in particular family dynamics and propose guidelines for appropriate and safe use of the technology. The study analyzes data from the literature and uses data collected from the survey sent to metaverse technology users to determine the advantages, limitations, and usage guidelines of metaverse technology in various fields related to health, medical sciences and family dynamics.
The results of the study identified potential correlations between the use of metaverse technology in various health and medical applications and proposed guidelines on the most appropriate and safest use of such technology. Furthermore, the study investigated the impact of metaverse technology on family relationships, such as changes in family dynamics or communication patterns. The findings of this study could potentially contribute to the development of guidelines for the safe and responsible use of metaverse technology to optimize its benefits while minimizing its risks. Moreover, the effect of metaverse technology seemed to be perceived differently by the population as some believes it to be a support to family relationships and interactions while others see it a reason to weaken family relationship and cause a negative impact on family dynamics. In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the effects of metaverse technology and suggests future research avenues to enhance its positive impact.
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Mohamed, A., Al-Barazie, R. (2023). Metaverse Technology in Health and Family: Assessing Impacts, Identifying Guidelines, and Examining Perceptions. In: Selvaraj, H., Chmaj, G., Zydek, D. (eds) Advances in Systems Engineering. ICSEng 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 761. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40579-2_49
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