Our new glossary series "Explained: VR Therapy" aims to explain complex terms of the digital health care system, which are directly related to our VR therapy, in a easy and comprehensive way. From the Digital Health Care Act („DiGAV / DVG“) to neuroplasticity and virtual reality.
Today we start with „Virtual Reality“ and would like to try to answer questions like, "What is VR, how you possibly know it already and which technical requirements are necessary for our VR Therapy". In the following series of "Explained: VR Therapy" we will further explain advantages of VR in a medical context, the potential limitations it can have and how it is differentiated from traditional forms of therapy.
What is concealed behind the term Virtual Reality?
There is no official definition of Virtual Reality. Therefore, we try to give an insightful overview and highlight different perspectives in this post.
"Zukunftsinstitut" initially describes VR as an artificial reality created by using specialised hard- and software. This means that a person can, for example, visit past cultures or be part of a simulated flight in a spaceship. As the online magazine "Mixed"states in its VR starter guide, VR can therefore be compared with our imagination: Theoretically there are no limits. According to VR researcher Jeremy Bailenson, its use is particularly worthwhile when the real experience is expensive, dangerous, impossible or rare.
"Heise-Verlag" thus translates VR as a "dream fulfilment machine", as VR can transport the user to any location that does not even have to be realistic. VR must be distinguished from 3D cinema, as the view through VR glasses fills the entire field of vision: One no longer perceives one's real environment, but only sees the virtual world.
Our Lead Programmer sums VR up as an alternative reality that allows a person to be completely immersed in another world without experiencing another reference value from the "real" world. If the virtual world is well designed, all the senses are addressed.
However it is difficult to compare with existing 3D technologies according to "Zukunftsinstitut" - and even more difficult to describe it without experiencing VR itself.
How do you perhaps already know VR or even experienced it yourself?
VR has been used in many different industries. Besides the medical field, in which CUREosity is active, you may have come across VR in the following fields (Zukunftsinstitut):
Gamers can experience space battles with maximum immersion directly from the cockpit.
The car manufacturer Audi installs VR stations in showrooms where customers can view any car configuration almost true to the original.
The film industry is increasingly investing in VR movies, including the "Story Studio" founded by Oculus itself.
In the near future, sporting events could also be broadcast in VR, from the perspective of a top seat directly in the stadium.
The technology is also already in use in the fields of science, therapy and medicine. Concretely, CUREosity uses VR technology to develop VR-based therapy applications and games to help people with neurological and psychological impairments and has the vision to revolutionise traditional rehabilitation by this means.
What do you need to start our VR-Therapy?
In line with Zukunftsinstitut, the core of modern VR hardware consists of the VR glasses with two high-resolution displays for the presentation of artificially generated images and a sensor system coupled to them for detecting the position of the head.
To start our VR-based therapy, all you need is WiFi, VR glasses, two VR controllers for the patients, and a tablet for the therapists and you are ready to go. Sounds expensive? Don't worry, as the hardware required for our VR therapy is supplied in a compact set. Suitable for clinical use, mobile and wireless.
Discover in the following "Explained: VR Therapy" series the benefits of VR in a medical context, how our VR therapy works and how the virtual worlds are designed by our game designers and software developers.
Feel free to write us feedback on how you like this series and ask us questions that we can explain to you in this format.
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