For many people, anxiety disorders are a daily struggle. These include panic disorder, agoraphobia, and social anxiety disorder. These conditions can make everyday situations feel overwhelming. But what if technology could offer a helping hand? It can, and it does. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a new approach. It uses 360° videos to create a safe space...
Emergency room doctors face a lot of stress during their long 24-hour shifts. So, researchers wanted to see if virtual reality (VR) could help reduce their anxiety levels. They conducted a study with 26 emergency medicine residents, all around 29 years old, with an equal number of men and women. The study was designed to compare the effects of a 10-minute rest break ...
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a tough condition that affects movement and balance. Many people with PD struggle with mobility. This is where virtual reality (VR) steps in. VR isn't just for gaming anymore. It's now being used to help people with PD improve their balance and movement. But how effective is it? That's the big question. There are two main types of VR syst...
Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. After a stroke, many people struggle with mobility and daily tasks. Virtual reality (VR) is a new tool in stroke rehabilitation. It offers a fun, engaging way to practice movements and regain skills. VR uses computer-generated environments to create realistic scenarios. Patients interact with these scenarios to impro...
Virtual reality is not just for fun and games. It is also being used to help teens with behavior problems. One program, called Street Temptations, uses virtual reality to help teens think more clearly and want to change their behavior. This program is an extra help for teens who are already in trouble with the law. It focuses on helping teens understand how other peo...
Pregnancy is a big deal. It's a time filled with joy, anxiety, and a whole lot of questions. Now, there's a new way to get support during this journey. A company has teamed up with a popular pregnancy app to offer virtual reality programs. These programs are designed to help expecting parents feel more connected and supported. The idea is to provide a mix of curated...
The skin of newborns is very delicate. Problems with their skin can lead to serious health issues. This is why nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have a big job. They must check newborns' skin regularly. This helps spot and treat any problems early. But here is the tricky part: nurses need the right mindset to do this job well. They need to see the impor...
Eye-tracking technology is a hot topic in the worlds of virtual reality, neuroscience, and psychology. It's crucial for making VR experiences more immersive and for helping researchers understand how we process information. However, creating an eye-tracking system that is both accurate and speedy is no easy task. Current methods, like glint tracking, have their limit...
Hospitals can be scary places for kids. Medical procedures often bring pain and fear, which is why sedation is frequently used. However, sedation isn't always the best solution, as it comes with its own set of health risks. Caregivers, typically parents, also feel the stress. Their anxiety can make the child's experience even worse. It's a tough cycle to break. Ther...
Virtual reality (VR) has always been about immersing yourself in a different world. But what if you could create that world just by talking? That is exactly what a new technology does. It lets users describe their ideal environment out loud. Then, it brings that description to life in a virtual space. This is not like the usual VR systems. Those systems use pre-made ...