Greenville-based The Blood Connection is looking to improve the donation experience and attract new donors.
On March 21 at its Woodruff Road location, the blood bank unveiled a new mixed-reality experience. The bank will now offer the Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset – which merges the physical with the digital world – while blood is being drawn.
CEO Delisa English said donations from adults and children between 16 and 24 years old have fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic, with less than 10% of donations coming from that age group.
The hope is that an improved experience may attract more young donors by relieving anxiety some feel about giving blood.
“Donors who use these headsets will be immersed in an interactive garden experience that allows them to plant seeds and cultivate a vibrant garden while remaining aware of their real-world surroundings, all while listening to soothing music,” English said.
The lenses are clear, so donors can see their surroundings while viewing a virtual garden through the lens. It takes their minds off the real-world experience without removing them from it. The headsets are hands-free and use eye-tracking technology.
The update was made in collaboration with Abbott, an international blood and plasma screener, Blood Centers of America, and a grant from Dabo Swinney’s All In Team Foundation.
Participant Scott Burton donated platelets while using the headset. Burton said he saw butterflies in a garden while also being able to see through The Blood Connection’s window, adding that it was a relaxing experience.
This story was filed as part of an editorial partnership between South Carolina Public Radio and the Greenville Journal, which is responsible for its content. You can learn more about the Greenville Journal here.