Letter from the Publisher

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Issue 1 of the 2009 CyberTherapy and Rehabilitation Magazine (C&R), the official voice of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training and Rehabilitation (I-ACToR). I-ACToR, formerly known as the International Association of CyberTherapy and Rehabilitation (IACR), is an international association dedicated to the promotion of virtual reality and advanced technologies as an adjunct to more traditional forms of healthcare. It also, in its new form, will deal with issues concerning how technology is changing behavior and society.

As you know, 2008 was C&R’s inaugural year. In 2009, C&R will continue to work to bring you news of cutting-edge technologies, innovations and new research in this domain. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our readers, for your encouragement and support in the founding of C&R. Special thanks also go to the Editorial Board members for their dedication in bringing this idea into reality. I would like to as well thank the Management Board and Founding Members of I-ACToR. We are excited to announce that we have already formed affiliations with several other associations, conferences, publications and institutional partners to further strengthen the goals of the association and unite this heretofore-fragmented field. We plan to build upon the momentum begun in 2007 and 2008 through the hard work and determination of my colleagues.

In the inaugural issue of C&R, we began our voyage of discovery by looking at currently available technologies and their benefits for health. We introduced the concept of virtual reality in healthcare, and focused on headmounted displays. In this, the second issue of C&R, we take a closer look at the applications of advanced technologies. Our lead article considers the evolution of wearables and their uses in the field of healthcare. The wearables theme is continued with articles on clothing which calls for the doctor and the “SpiderGlove”. Our product comparison chart allows you to compare existing innovations in wearable technology – these range from garments that monitor health problems to a patch used for transdermal drug delivery. Other articles look at technological solutions to curb teen smoking and improve the cognitive functioning and increase the social participation of the elderly. A further study also looks at how human computer interaction can improve the social skills of children with Aspergers Syndrome. And finally, an opensource platform is discussed for virtual environments. I would like to thank the authors of these articles for the time and effort that they put into getting these thought-provoking articles ready for print.

Looking to the future, coming issues of C&R will discuss topics such as E-habilitation, video games for health, implantables and much more. There is a wealth of advanced technology for healthcare, and C&R will continue to dedicate itself to bringing you news of exciting developments in this field.

I hope you enjoy reading our publication and that it sparks your desire to increase your knowledge in this exciting new domain. We are always striving to meet (and surpass!) the needs and expectations of our readers, and so we very much welcome your input. Please contact me, or the C&R Managing Director, at office@ vrphobia.eu, with your comments and suggestions. We would be delighted to hear from you. Indeed, your contributions are vital to our continued growth.

Create your own reality!                                                                                                   Brenda Wiederhold