Medical / Biomedical
Neuro VR is a platform that, thanks to an “immersive” modality, simulates real situations useful to support the clinical profession in the treatment of some neuro-psychiatric disorders. The platform was developed in the last years in cooperation with the Istituto Auxologico Italiano (Italian Institute for Auxology) as a scientific partner.
The Neuro VR platform includes two main components: the Editor and the Player; there are moreover several sets of
pre-designed scenarios and a
library with 2D, 3D objects and
videos, that can be used to customize scenarios.
The scenario editor:
The editor is the tool for creation and configuration of NeuroVR scenes. Using a simple and intuitive interface, clinicians can customize the virtual environment and the sensory stimulation level to fit each patient’s needs.
The scene editor was designed as a tool that can be used by healthcare professionals who have no or very little knowledge of software development
or 3D graphics.
Scenarios can be assembled choosing from a database of objects, anyhow to be enlarged at will, by introducing new components.
The editor also includes a sophisticated trigger system, that contributes to increase the dynamic and interactive behavior of the scene.
The scenario editor:
Thanks to the scene editor it is also possible to define quite easily the behavior of objects within the scene, as a reaction to the users’ activities during the simulation. Any action, chosen among a list of available actions, can be linked to one or more events that will be triggered by the pre-defined condition, using a simple principle of action and reaction.
Input devices:
NeuroVR can be connected to several input devices, through which it is possible to interact and visit the scene. A specific interface is dedicated to biomedical sensors and allows to influence the behavior of the scenario. In this case it is shown how to use data from ECG or EEG to modify the properties of an object.
The editor includes a rich library of components for scenes customization:
• 3D models of objects
• images
• sounds
• movies
Through the player application, users can navigate and interact with the scenes created in the editor. The player has two modes of navigation:
• Non-immersive: the virtual environment is displayed using the PC display and interaction can take place via the keyboard or joypad
• Immersive: the environment is enjoyed by a helmet with media tracker to control the movements of the user within the virtual world
The kitchen of the apartment enviroment is used by psychologist in the protocol for the eating disorders. Other rooms of the apartment are used for exercise on everyday tasks and for neuro-rehabilitation.
Restaurant is used to teaching the good rules of eating to patients with eating disorders. Restaurant can also be used as public area for protocol about socialization.
Users can explore the supermarket and take their favourite products from the shelves. At the end of the session the user go at the cashier desk. The clinician can assess the eating habits of the patient.
The Auditorium environment is used for the treatment of the fear to speech in public.
The Hospital scene and in particular the ambulatory room are used for anxiety caused by clinical examinations, fear of blood and needle phobia.
Office is a place where many stressfull situations can arise.
- job interviews
- meeting with the boss
- ask for a salary increase
- work under pressure
All these situation are reproduced in the Office environment and the patient acquire skill to cope with stress.
People with social phobia have exaggerated feelings of shyness and inhibition that can be transformed into fear in everyday social situations. The railway station is a place where interact with other people and face of problem like:
- don't get lost
- ask for help
- don't miss the train
- find the right platform
Scenario designed for those individuals who are afraid of open spaces.
Environment for relaxation exercises with a lake, set in a green valley, surrounded by the sounds of nature. For those who suffer from entomophobia from this scenario is used to face the fear of insects.
