Therapeutic Research

Exploring Therapeutic Aspects in Alternative Immersive Environments

In the 1990s, several virtual environments (VEs) deemed immersive were developed as therapeutic treatments for numerous ailments. These VEs were created using stereoscopic, head-mounted displays (HMDs), trackers and sensors. Several of these virtual environments are currently in use in medical realms and continue to be developed.
Research strongly suggests that the immersive properties of these HMD-based virtual environments were crucial to their effectiveness. One study demonstrated that standard video games displayed on computer monitors were not, for example, nearly as effective as the immersive environments in distracting patients from their acute pain.

Can alternative immersive environments, sometimes termed responsive environments, work as well as HMD- or CAVE-based immersive environments in the distraction or modulation of chronic pain? Based on author Diane Gromala’s long-term research in pain and virtual reality (VR), along with alternative immersive environments created by artist and author Jinsil Seo, we propose that alternative immersive environments that we are creating may be as effective as HMD-based VEs for patients who suffer from chronic pain. Initial experiments suggest that this and prior alternative immersive environments are efficacious in temporarily modulating the experience of those who suffer from chronic pain; further iterations and the final immersive environment will be evaluated on numerous levels, from patient feedback to artistic merit.

In this research, we explore some of the reasons why prior HMD-based immersive environments were successful in particular medical applications, and elucidate the reasons why alternative immersive environments may be as potentially successful as earlier therapeutic work in VR.