What do we intend to prove with the HOPE trials?

We intend to prove that online gaming communities:

· Can ameliorate depression in the hospitalized child
· Can be shown to improve the quality of life of a hospitalized child

How do we plan to accomplish this?

We have enlisted a team of critically acclaimed researchers from Johns Hopkins to help us evaluate the impact of online gaming in our group of children on hemodialysis at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

What are the implications of our research?

This is the first trial of its kind to evaluate the impact that three-dimensional graphical environments within online communities can have on the chronically ill child.

Preliminary data suggests that the communal environment fostered by these online communities may be used as a non-therapeutic adjunct for the treatment of depression, effectively creating a new, innovative psychosocial support mechanism.

Imagine being affiliated with the body of research that scientifically proves that online gaming experiences are actually good for hospitalized children! It is feasible that this work will lead to the establishment of a body of research devoted to the therapeutic implications of online experiences.

Can I See the Research Protocol?

Yes. All of our scientific documents are available for download, perusal and feedback under the “Open Source for the Mind” link.