Donna Davis
Gainesville, Florida
Assistant Professor, School of Journalism and Communication
Inaugural Faculty Innovation Fellow, Agora Journalism Center
University of Oregon in Portland
We hear a lot about technology’s dark side, but Donna Davis searches for what’s good. She discovered that, online, 3-D virtual worlds can have terrific benefits for Parkinson’s patients. For an 87-year-old woman who can no longer walk without assistance, the power of the medium is that she can dance like the stars and have a very meaningful and satisfying social life, something that is often lost for folks with disabilities or who live in isolation. An innovation grant allowed Donna to build on the idea of creating a virtual “place” designed for people with a range of disabilities. Now she is asking more questions and helping people all over the world cope with their everyday challenges. In the process, she’s changing how we think about health care. Which is exciting. Because for explorers like Donna, finding a better way is what real life is all about.
See Donna's area of research in this case study video of Parkinson's patients exploring Second Life.