Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Mum reunites with deceased daughter through VR

Source Website: https://www.asiaone.com/digital/mum-reunites-deceased-daughter-through-vr
By Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent, 10 February 2020
Thanks to virtual reality (VR), the South Korean mum Jang Ji-sung was able to reunite with her deceased child, even for a short while.
PHOTO: Thanks to virtual reality (VR), the South Korean mum Jang Ji-sung was able to reunite with her deceased child, even for a short while. One of the country’s broadcasters, MBC, made it possible through the documentary 너를 마났다 (neo leul ma nass da, translated as “Meeting You”). It aired in South Korea on Thursday (6 Feb).
PHOTO: Screengrab from Youtube/MBCdocumentary
Picture posted by Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent on 10 February 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlf_4QfLqDQm84Lnp9pg-myxt4KSYb066bYAj4GyrGJsFdDI-acCyLm1ntnhW_jKWPdGqz_6PjtFMFMCmfitqFAQdXQ1zIYVAeUTAz8sZ3uef2fcUJXUCtwNnWUGBG-MZnCoL7OfBEqA/s1600/100220_vrscene_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/original_images/Feb2020/100220_vrscene_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/digital/mum-reunites-deceased-daughter-through-vr


When a woman loses her husband, she is called a widow. When a man loses his wife, he is called a widower. And when a child loses his/her parents, he/she is called an orphan. But what do you call a parent who has lost his/her child? English has no word for it, because the pain is so unimaginable, there is no word that can describe it.

Unfortunately, mum Jang Ji-sung had to go through such pain when her daughter, seven-year-old Nayeon died three years ago.

But thanks to virtual reality (VR), the South Korean mum was able to reunite with her deceased child, even for a short while. One of the country’s broadcasters, MBC, made it possible through the documentary 너를 마났다 (neo leul ma nass da, translated as “Meeting You”). It aired in South Korea on Thursday (6 Feb).


MUM REUNITES WITH DECEASED DAUGHTER THROUGH VR IN SOUTH KOREA

Posted by MBCdocumentary on 06 February 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=48&v=uflTK8c4w0c&feature=emb_logo


Maybe it’s a real paradise
PHOTO: “Maybe it’s a real paradise,” said Jang Ji-sung via Aju Business Daily. “I met Nayeon, who called me with a smile, for a very short time, but it’s a very happy time. I think I’ve had the dream I’ve always wanted.” At one point the avatar asks Jang Ji-sung, “Where have you been, Mom? Did you think about me?”. “I do all the time”, responds Jang Ji-sung before reaching out and holding hands with her virtual daughter.
Picture posted by Kyle Melnick on 08 February 2020
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https://l3apq3bncl82o596k2d1ydn1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ezgif.com-optimize-3.gif
https://vrscout.com/news/mother-reunites-with-deceased-child-vr/


A preview of the scene where Jang and her departed daughter was shared on MBC’s YouTube page which showed the cut between both worlds — the real and the virtual one — where the two met again.

According to MBC, the production team took eight months to develop virtual reality. They used motion capture technology to record the movements of a child actor that they could later use as a model for their virtual Nayeon, and reproduced her voice.

They also designed a virtual park — based on the one the mother-daughter duo frequented — where they would meet.

In the preview, we see Jang talking to her daughter, while her husband and 3 other children watch from a monitor.

"MUM, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
Not a dry eye in the room when a virtual model of Nayeon showed up in the screen, running towards her mother saying: “Mum, where have you been? Did you think of me?”


Mum meets deceased daughter through VR.
PHOTO: Mum meets deceased daughter through VR.
PHOTO: Screengrab from Youtube/MBCdocumentary
Picture posted by Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent on 10 February 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmFyxyCYtV69p-Mj3f5lxLAxoooX7ofzMO_u28lUExKIyS3okOswNf5GzJW5-Z31ex2INIw2YFbyz__nzq5uz3_aXJjdZyxDYk4WInxL6PZgGuUavc7PYjuHJIk52IjTwseYHmOrwrjM/s1600/100220_vr_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/100220_vr_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/digital/mum-reunites-deceased-daughter-through-vr


Jang was seen attempting to touch her daughter. In the interview, she said: “I wanted to touch my daughter. I tried to hold her hand and stroke her face.”

In VR, Jang and her daughter “touched hands.” Jang also sang her daughter a birthday song. They had seaweed soup (a traditional Korean birthday dish) and she gave her a piece of honey cake “that she wanted to eat.”


Jang and her daughter 'celebrated' her birthday.
PHOTO: Jang and her daughter "celebrated" her birthday.
PHOTO: Screengrab from Youtube/MBCdocumentary
Picture posted by Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent on 10 February 2020 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnW1n09CSvHbF6fCX4UiRSeMP-MgdjN-h_siTi4qvDXegscEPGa1H2hEFO00gSxi216sSNwkktKWnuy2I8pd0pPFg1uRaGsdblg_6DOugGZcQyp36abYIvzLas6FTfVk2380KBeuuxM54/s1600/100220_vr1_screengrab.jpg
PHOTO: As if the scene wasn’t heart-wrenching enough, the VR reunion quickly turns into a VR birthday party complete with balloons, decorations, a cake, and a variety of other colorful adornments. The pair sit down across from one another at a white table and share a meal of seaweed soup before capping off the celebration by lighting the candles on a cake; Nayeon wishes her mother not to cry, an impossible task for Jang Ji-sung at this point.
Picture posted by Kyle Melnick on 08 February 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsPFj3nHaD7rgX6Ipn4rL3AUjjRDln-HuE-eIQSVyCSNn9-OWyQsU7UvFJdRyX86pvl5RrFre4prmLZODghGWMzA40k7qkCCo8yZbhl_0haNm0UMHqfQq27iaT-yRRYwykq8u2ig7LKc/s1600/ezgif.com-optimize-1-2.gif
https://l3apq3bncl82o596k2d1ydn1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ezgif.com-optimize-1-2.gif
https://vrscout.com/news/mother-reunites-with-deceased-child-vr/


Nayeon also blew the candles and even made a wish: “Please don’t let my dad smoke… please don’t let my mum cry.”

The meeting ended with Nayeon lying in bed. Reading Jang her letter saying she will remember her for a long time: “Goodbye, mum, I love you.” to which the mum replied, “me too.” Nayeon went back to sleep and like magic, vanished and turned a butterfly.


Nayeon went back to sleep and like magic, vanished and turned a butterfly.
PHOTO: Nayeon went back to sleep and like magic, vanished and turned a butterfly.
PHOTO: Screengrab from Youtube/MBCdocumentary
Picture posted by Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent on 10 February 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZglCVPbM8MXgFeAnNAHGz05mUvTYHnwHmlu5omQnHigghNjruiaato1AYtde6TRXeif5uuVn0Lt7no3tCGBf-fpP1eyf9UDzkAEoaFh9twLhkaDVygHzNKRmsQWRtdbl_6YFsmqtl9fc/s1600/100220_vr2_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/100220_vr2_screengrab.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/digital/mum-reunites-deceased-daughter-through-vr


After the whole experience, Jang said, while it wasn’t completely like her daughter, it felt like she “saw her daughter at the moment.” She said the experience taught her not to miss her child anymore, but love her more instead.

THREE YEARS BEFORE MUM REUNITES WITH DECEASED DAUGHTER THROUGH VR
Jang’s daughter Nayeon is the third of her four children. She was diagnosed with a rare disease called haemochromatosis. Haemochromatosis is a medical condition in which a person absorbs too much iron from their diet which causes “iron overload.”

It accumulates around the body over time, damaging many organs, including the liver, and eventually causing disease and even death.


Nayeon, 7.
PHOTO: Nayeon, 7.
She was diagnosed with a rare disease called haemochromatosis. Haemochromatosis is a medical condition in which a person absorbs too much iron from their diet which causes “iron overload.” 
PHOTO: Though the technology used in this project is still in its relative infancy, it’s abundantly clear just how powerful VR can be when used by the right team for the right cause. Harnessing the power of various immersive hardware, MBC made the dreams of one grieving mother a reality. If that’s not the sign of revolutionary technology, I’m not sure what is.
Picture posted by Kyle Melnick on 08 February 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOYeBpX4ZrOKLcVYvv_RFaAMk7yQKmUQXyfgFFNI1FBubaObs9tgUVDS-i-EjltKGcVyPDrOiKbZcF4zIU1LCh7ztv6i116VHiDoSAhgfWeC1f6gAIx5n-N-CsmzQkG4Xg5xqAlkP5pE/s1600/VRReunion-810x456.jpg
https://l3apq3bncl82o596k2d1ydn1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/VRReunion-810x456.jpg
https://vrscout.com/news/mother-reunites-with-deceased-child-vr/

 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
PHOTO: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15).

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." (Proverbs 31:25).
 

Mum Jang Ji-sung and daughter Nayeon
Mum Jang Ji-sung and daughter Nayeon
PHOTO: Mum Jang Ji-sung and daughter Nayeon
"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. . ." (Isaiah 66:13).
Picture posted by Nayth on 13 July 2010 - mother n child - Zazen Arr
gif file generated by Animated Images Effects Generator at http://www.webestools.com/animated-images-effect-generator-effects-gif-images-picture-blog-gif-fx-images-animated-effect.html
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https://www.deviantart.com/nayth/art/mother-n-child-Zazen-Arr-171080630

By Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent, 10 February 2020
This article was first published in theAsianparent.



Reference
[1] Nikki De Guzman, theAsianparent, Mum reunites with deceased daughter through VR, posted on 10 February 2020, https://www.asiaone.com/digital/mum-reunites-deceased-daughter-through-vr


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