MediGait, a Haifa (Israel) based company founded by a former NASA researcher, released a virtual reality training tool aimed to improve walking ability in patients suffering from Parkinson Disease (PD) and other movement disorders.

A mobile phone (a big one, though) sized black box and a set of VR HMD glasses form the product, named GaitAid, which studies show to be effective in helping patients exercise their walk pace. The idea for the product came from the fact that people with walking disorder tend to walk better on a tiled floor. Yoram Baram, Ph. D, the founder of MediGait, realised that with VR techniques he could always provide tiles! So, basically, GaitAid displays tiles over the floor the patient is walking on, and synchronizes the image with the actual walking pace. This helps the user coordinate body movements and, according to studies carried out by the Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Center at the University of Cincinnati, 3 out of 4 people present improvements after having repeatedly exercised with MediGait's device.

Though it is not a graphical-high-end miracle of a virtual reality tool, GaitAid is certainly an example par excellence of practical (in every sense) use of virtual reality to solve everyday problems. Cost : $1475.00 including shipping. 60-day money-back guarantee.

More info and a short interview with the founder on their site.