Call me a late adopter. A skeptic. Practical. Actually, don’t call me practical…long story. But, I am someone who appreciates the testing and proving of anything. So for me, the craze around virtual reality sets off every trigger in the “why is this important?” compartment of my brain.

Until now.

With roots in gaming, virtual reality, or VR as it’s more commonly called, is reaching new heights of its potential not only for entertainment, but also for education, connection, and maybe most importantly, empathy.

“Dream Adventures”

Every year, nearly 8,000 children are treated for life-threatening illnesses at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Many of these children require lengthy, extended hospital stays which means less time outside exploring the world and going on adventures.

With a mission to make the world a better place through travel, Expedia has discovered a use for VR that fulfills dreams and elevates the possibilities of this new technology. “Dream Adventures,” an immersive VR experience launched earlier this year, brings travel to children who cannot travel, giving them once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as scuba diving, unearthing fossils, and running with wild horses.

Real life differences made by virtual reality shows that when creativity is applied to technology, something bigger happens than just hype. Lives are changed, minds are changed, and hope is restored that our progression is ultimately building good.

Learn more about Dream Adventures and find out how you can get involved in helping more children at St. Jude explore the world.