iACToR Weekly Newsletter #45

[James Cullen]

Opening Statement

Hello iACToR members,

The Interactive Media Institute and the Virtual Reality Medical Institute invite you to submit your application to be a participant in the 2012 NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) themed "Invisible Wounds: New Tools to Enhance Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment." (IW2012)

FREE REGISTRATION will be provided to the first 50 applicants accepted to this 10-day intensive training experience convened to provide international clinicians, psychologists and postdoctoral researchers focused learning and application of the latest advances in assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related comorbid disorders in military populations.

IW2012 Description
The organizers and attendees of the NATO-funded “Wounds of War” advanced research workshop series realized the need for IW2012 due to the increased rates of PTSD in combat veterans and survivors of armed conflict. Exposure to traumatic events have led to this increased risk of PTSD and often, the serious consequences of this disorder lead to impulsive and destructive behavior such as drug abuse, uncontrollable anger, and even suicide. Combat-related PTSD is one of the strongest factors that contribute to high suicide risk in returning troops. IW2012 disseminates knowledge and skills among attendees fostering collaboration to help counter this aforementioned internal threat to our countries’ security. In comparison to a traditional conference, IW2012 allows for greater collaboration among established and emerging research leaders in the field of PTSD, and provides presentation of this unique material in depth. IW2012 will afford participants solid grounding in the latest PTSD research; review of the latest science related to theoretical constructs and associated neuroscience; and presentation of the latest psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for intervention, treatment, and management of the disorder. Submit your application today to take part in this important educational event!

Free Registration to IW2012 includes:

• 10-Day intensive training with world-renowned experts in the discipline of diagnosis and treatment of PTSD
• Experientially learn, practice and master the basics of therapy constructs such as CBT, exposure therapy including virtual reality exposure therapy, and physiological monitoring and feedback
• 70+ Hours of American Psychological Association certified course work for psychologists and other mental health disciplines
• Free copy of the IW2012 Course Proceedings published by IOS Press
• Opportunity to win travel awards for qualified applicants

Co-Organizers

Professor Brenda K. Wiederhold, Ph.D., MBA, BCIA
Virtual Reality Medical Institute - Brussels, Belgium
Interactive Media Institute - San Diego, CA, USA

Professor Kresimir Cosic, Ph.D.
University of Zagreb - Zagreb, Croatia

Course Lecture Leader

Professor Jim Spira, Ph.D., MPH, ABPP
The Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD
Honolulu, HI, USA

Submit Your Application

To submit your application please visit http://www.tinyurl/IW2012App. Application deadline is February 15, 2012.

For more information on IW2012, please visit http://www.interactivemediainstitute.com/IW2012.
 

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Calls, Conferences and Capital

Med-e-Tel Conference
April 18 - 20, 2012 | Luxembourg
Registration now open! | http://www.medetel.eu
 

Med-e-Tel is an official event of the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth (ISfTeH), THE international federation of national associations who represent their country's Telemedicine and eHealth stakeholders. Attending the vast conference program featuring over 150 presentations and workshops, and learn from experience built up by experts from around the world. Hear about current applications and best practice examples, see a glimpse of future trends in Telemedicine and eHealth, and their effect on the healthcare system as a whole. Get an update on new developments that will allow you to stay ahead and make more effective and efficient use of technologies to improve quality of health, medical and social care. Medical specialists can benefit from up to 16 hours of CME credits.

Med-e-Tel promotes and enhances cooperation opportunities, and is the place to establish partnerships and contacts, both globally and locally. Meet and network with healthcare and industry stakeholders, use the dedicated meeting areas and events at Med-e-Tel to exchange ideas. Attend meetings from a number of international and regional associations, and expand your network.

Meet with industry representatives and see the solutions and technology at work in the expo and networking area. Participate in demonstrations that will give you a better view on the potential behind Telemedicine and eHealth tools. Med-e-Tel focuses on ehealth and telemedicine applications and a wide range of other medical ICT applications and on the convergence of information and communication technology with medical applications, which lead to higher quality of care, cost reductions, workflow efficiency, and widespread availability of healthcare services.

To register for this exciting conference, visit http://www.medetel.eu/index.php?rub=visitor&page=registration_s...
 

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Top CyberPsychology News

Mercedes-Benz Put Augmented Reality Behind the Wheel
Humans invent - Augmented reality is starting to play a larger part in everyday life, with smartphone manufacturers and app developers working on the virtual reality technology. Car manufacturers are also getting in on the act, however, with Mercedes-Benz designing an innovative dashboard and windscreen which features augmented reality. With the ability to display information in front of our very eyes, without needing to look down or in another direction, it seemed like only a matter of time before Augmented Reality made it into cars. The control system on Mercedes-Benz’s augmented reality Dashboard – also known as DICE (Dynamic and Intuitive Control Experience) is revolutionary, offering reactions to movements in a manner reminiscent of Minority Report, and although all the information you need is highlighted on the huge dashboard itself, more vital information is also shown as a heads-up display, overlaid on the windscreen itself. To read more, please visit http://bit.ly/zntMxs.

Older People Seem to Benefit by Combining Exercise with Virtual-Reality Activity
The Washington Post - THE QUESTION: Physical activity has proven benefits for the brain. Might adding mental exercise to the physical boost the effect? This study randomly assigned 79 adults older than 55, most in their late 70s or early 80s, to exercise for 45 minutes, five days a week, on a recumbent stationary bicycle or on a cybercycle, a recumbent bike equipped with a computerized screen that allowed interactive virtual-reality gaming. The cybercyclists participated in simulated bike tours and races while exercising. All participants were given periodic cognitive tests. After three months, those who cybercycled had, on average, improved their scores on tests of executive function, which indicate abilities such as planning, organizing and problem-solving. People who simply pedaled recorded no cognitive improvements. Also, cybercyclists were 23 percent less likely than the others to have developed mild cognitive impairment. To read more, please visit http://wapo.st/wYPmAt.
 

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5 Ways to Get More Involved

1. Become a Premium Member of iACToR!
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2. Join your local iACToR Chapter! Please visit the Chapter page to request membership to the appropriate iACToR Chapter. This is an excellent way to become acquainted and introduced to colleagues in your area!
   
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5. Update Your Profile and Comment on Others! Keep members up to date with your latest information. Post a blog, update your status, add a picture of yourself, and let the community know your area of expertise. All can be done with in your Profile page and we encourage you to do so!

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Create your own reality!

Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA
Secretary General
International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACToR)