From: William.T.Dedula@lerc.nasa.gov (William T Dedula)
Subject: TECH: HMD Use by children and the transfer of head lice
Date: 17 Dec 1996 19:17:27 GMT
Message-ID: <596rk7$m5u@sulawesi.lerc.nasa.gov>
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center



Hello All;

I am the leader of an exciting project which will introduce High
Quality Virtual Reality and Flight Simulations to thousands of
children around the country every month. Along with ten other computer
workstations and other exhibits, we will use technology to teach kids
about aeronautics and NASA's aeronautics programs.

For our Virtual Reality Exhibit, we're using a VR4 HMD and I've heard
from the very first day I've begun planning this exhibit that HMD's
can promote the transfer of head lice among children. We are about to
put our exhibit in full operation (Shortly after the first of next
year) and this issue was brought up again.

>From all users out there who operate professional VR systems ...
particularly for entertainment, I'm curious what you think about how
much of a problem this is ? And second ... and perhaps even more
important, have you addressed this issue within your organization and
if so, could you provide some ideas on how you minimized or completely
solved the problem ?

The only practical way we can think of minimizing or elimining the 
transfer of head lice is to purchase a paper cap or something we can put 
on a kids head before he/she puts on the HMD. It has to be made out of 
paper or some other cheap material so we can purchase a lots of them. 
Does anyone know if this is a practical solution and where such a cap 
may be purchased ? 

Thanks ... Tim Dedula

 

William.T.Dedula@lerc.nasa.gov (William T Dedula)