Tandem VR™ is a virtual reality concept centered on sharing experiences with others. Tandem VR™ is focused on two things. One, VR experiences are "in tandem," meaning that two or more people’s experiences are synchronized (simultaneous) so they can fully enjoy them together. Two, the VR experiences are personalized to their preferences based on their experiences, dreams, or memories.
Dr. Olivia McAnirlin developed the concept of Tandem VR™ during her dissertation research starting in 2020 while earning a PhD from Clemson University in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Olivia was drawn to helping people who could not safely access their loved nature places, visit these places again with their loved ones. Olivia began this research focused on regifting nature and recreation experiences in VR for people living with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their caregivers and families.
The name “Tandem VR™” is inspired by a true story of love and memories. My great-grandparents had a farm in rural Corinth, Maine, and were very busy in their community, raising children, and farming. One of their shared joys was riding their tandem bicycle, which they would do for town parades and lovingly called “the bicycle built for two.”
The act of riding a tandem bicycle is an act of love and friendship. Whether it’s your first time or 100th, riders must be synchronized and living in the moment together, ready to bike as one. Tandem bicycles can transport us to favorite shared picnic spots by the river, scenic overlooks to watch sunrises, or places we’ve always wanted to visit. Whatever our adventure, a tandem bicycle allows a life in sync with our loved ones.
Tandem VR™ is named for the nostalgia of my great-grandparents sharing memories and new experiences, side by side, one pedal at a time.
How is Tandem VR™ being used
Presentations
Clemson University Emeritus College, Clemson, South Carolina. Reimagining end-of-life care with Tandem VR™: Authentically personalizing virtual nature experiences for transformative farewells to loved places. McAnirlin, O. August 2024.
International Association People-Environment Studies, Barcelona, Spain. Reimagining end-of-life care: A co-creation odyssey into authentically personalizing virtual nature experiences for transformative farewells to loved places. McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Fasolino, T., Thrift, J., Pope, J. K., & Li, F. July 2024.
Real Emotions and Affect in Extended Realities (REALITIES) 2024, Milan, Italy. EchoSphere: A synchronous virtual reality research platform for environmental emotion research and intervention. Li, F., Yuan, S., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Stanojevic, C., & Bennett, C. July 2024.
The Academy of Leisure Sciences Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. EchoSphere: A synchronous virtual reality experience for recreation and parks. Li, F., McAnirlin, O., Yuan, S., Browning, M. H. E. M., Pope, J. K., Thrift, J., & Fasolino, T. February 2024.
Medical University of South Carolina Palliative Care Showcase, Charleston, South Carolina. Tandem VR™: Synchronized nature-based experiences in virtual reality for hospice patients and their caregivers. Thrift, J., Fasolino, T., Pope, K., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., McMahon, M., Moutogiannis, P., Li, F., Thomas, G., & Farrell, E. September 2023.
University of South Carolina School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium, Greenville, South Carolina. Tandem VR™: Synchronized nature-based experiences in virtual reality for hospice patients and their caregivers. McMahon, M., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Fasolino, T., Thrift, J. & Pope, J. K. July 2023.
University of Washington Nature and Health Seminar. Personalized virtual nature as a tool for people living with severe COPD. McAnirlin, O. March 2023.
Articles
McAnirlin, O. (2024). ‘It feels really vulnerable and a little dangerous’: When words are not enough. Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2024.2329423
McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Fasolino, T., Okamoto, K., Sharaievska,I., Thrift, J., & Pope, J. K. (2024). Psychological well-being benefits of co-creating nature-based VR: Preliminary evidence from U.S. adults living with severe COPD. Wellbeing, Space & Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2024.100212
McAnirlin, O., Thrift, J., Li, F., Pope, J. K., Browning, M. H. E. M., Moutogiannis, P. P., Thomas, G., Farrell, E., Evatt, M. M., & Fasolino, T. (2024). The Tandem VR™ protocol: Synchronized nature-based and other outdoor experiences in virtual reality for hospice patients and their caregivers. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101318
Clinical Trials
Tandem VR™: Synchronized nature-based experiences in virtual reality for hospice patients and their caregivers. Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06186960
Media Coverage
Virtual reality helps people share experiences. Upstate Today. June 2024.
Tandem VR™ captures the nostalgia of shared moments and bucket list experiences with the people you love.
Inquiries about Tandem VR™
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