One of Carlisle’s top entertainment venues – shut due to COVID-19 restrictions – used its innovative technology to help care home residents during the pandemic.
VR Gateway – an arcade in English Street Plaza – has been given a top rating by TripAdvisor by people who visited it pre-pandemic for virtual reality games.
A spokesman for VR Gateway said: “Even prior to lockdown VR Gateway had been visiting care homes to provide residents with a break from their environment, with a virtual visit to a relaxing woodland or beach, or a trip down memory lane — all using a VR programme similar to Google Earth.
“As we could no longer visit places in person we loaned out some of our portable equipment to a local residential care home, took time to train staff, and pre-load some carefully curated experiences.
“We’re eager to resume our one-to-one sessions and really hope this can commence soon.”
VR Gateway is due to reopen this Saturday and the team has added new games and experiences, designed and built in Carlisle.
The team has also developed an educational platform and is set to launch it later this year.
