| Biographies |
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| Andrew - Hi! My name is Andrew. I am 14 and in grade 9 at Stratford Central Secondary School in Stratford, Ontario. My interests include computers, cartooning, acting, and art. I enjoy helping others, and along with my brothers, am involved in fundraising activities and food drives to support our local community. I first became interested in mindful meditation when I attended a workshop organized by my science teacher. After doing more research, I was excited to discover the additional benefits of mindfulness. My brother and I expanded this to include the use of VR technology to appeal to a wider audience. I am excited about new technology and have been exploring ways to incorporate VR after recently attending an evening program at The University of Waterloo . This was the first time that my brother and I have worked collaboratively on our science fair project. It was a wonderful experience to brainstorm our ideas and sort through our findings together. I am very excited to be competing at the Canada Wide level and will enjoy sharing this experience with my older brother. The notion that more people will learn about mindfulness and experience the benefits, is the icing on the cake! | | Cameron - My name is Cameron. I am 16 and in grade 11 at Stratford Central Secondary School in Stratford, Ontario. My interests include computers and scientific discovery. I am also a competitive fencer. This past year I was a member of the Minister of Education Student Advisory Council and met students from across Ontario. My brothers and I have a Me to We group and initiate fundraising and food drives in our local community. I am excited about new technology and have been exploring ways to incorporate VR into everyday life. I first discovered Virtual Reality while taking an evening program at University of Waterloo. The teachers at my school allow me to use the equipment at the school to further my investigations. Using VR as a tool to encourage mindful meditation is a new avenue. I was encouraged to see that this process can successfully reduce blood pressure and induce feelings of relaxation. I have competed in the science fair since grade 4, but this is the first time that I have entered with my younger brother. Working together was a great experience and I am excited to be travelling to Ottawa with him to represent our region. |
| Andrew Johnson, Cameron Johnson
VR — Virtual Relaxation
| Challenge: | Innovation | | Category: | Senior | | Region: | Avon Maitland-Huron Perth | | City: | Stratford, ON | | School: | Stratford Central S.S. | | Abstract: | Our project examines the effects of VR mindful body-scan on blood pressure and pulse rate. We created a VR to appeal to teens and eliminate distractions that might interfere with the body-scan experience. Mindfulness helps individuals relax and increases awareness of their body. Introducing students to the practice of mindfulness alongside VR technology, lowers blood pressure and evokes an overall feeling of calmness. |
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