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Virtual Reality Offers a Last Walk in the Sun for Sick Grandmother

Most of us think of virtual reality as the next big thing in gaming. But this sad yet inspiring story of an ailing grandmother’s last days puts a powerful new spin on the technology.

An artist in the gaming industry, Priscilla Firstenberg, had the idea that the Oculus Rift VR headset might provide a welcome escape for her terminally ill grandmother, Roberta. Priscilla emailed the company, which responded with sympathy and lent her a headset to try out. Before long, Roberta was walking through a virtual Tuscan villa, trying to catch butterflies and admiring the sunshine.

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This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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