Phobias

V3.025

Software Description

Detailed description of activities, settings, and interaction options within the scenes.

Most scenarios begin in a standing position. However, there are also chairs and sofas in many scenarios. If you want the patient to sit down, you need to provide a physical chair for them to sit on.

This scenario starts automatically when the app is opened.

At the beginning, a 5-second countdown appears in the headset. During this time,  patients should look straight ahead, as the scenario will be aligned according to this direction. Beforehand, the patient should be positioned to have as much open space in front of them as possible. This also applies to all other scenarios!

In the lobby, the aim is for patients to familiarize themselves with a virtual environment as well as with the controllers.

Patients learn two essential things here:

Patients can move through the space using their own steps.
For larger distances, however, the teleport function is used.
To do this, push the joystick on the controller forward with your thumb.
You will then see a colored beam that allows you to aim at any point on the floor.
When the beam glows green, you can teleport to that location.
To do this, simply release the joystick, and you will suddenly appear at the targeted point.
If the beam is not green but red, teleporting to that point is not possible.

Our recommendation: At the beginning, use the teleport function for larger distances.
Let the last steps to specific objects be taken with your own steps.

With the virtual hands, a variety of objects in the scenarios can be picked up.
To do this, move the virtual hand toward the object, such as a beer bottle.
Then, press the button on the inside of the grip, usually with the middle finger.
The hand will then close, and you will be holding the object.

If you want to release the object, simply let go of the button.
Small objects, such as a cigarette, are automatically picked up with two fingers.
Depending on the position of the hand (palm facing down or up), the cigarette is either held between the index and middle fingers or between the index finger and thumb.

This is how to hold the controller correctly in your hand. Use your thumb to push the joystick forward to utilize the teleport function. The button for the middle finger is used for grabbing and releasing objects.

Important note about grabbing:
When holding an object and moving it into another object (e.g., a cigarette into the table), the object disappears into it, as all objects are virtual, and there are no physical barriers. Therefore, it is important to release the objects in a timely manner.

After an introduction in the lobby, select an appropriate scenario from the scenario overview on the left. To do this, click on the image of the scenario and then on the play button below the preview screen. The scenario then loads and appears in the headset.
Be sure to observe the 5-second countdown here as well.

Important note:
If you want to switch to another scenario, always return to the lobby first. Only then can a new scenario be selected and started.

Explanation for the following descriptions:
When “buttons” are mentioned, this refers to all buttons located under “Presets,” “Settings,” and “Interactions” that you can activate.
When additional “interaction options” are listed, these are actions the patient performs themselves while wearing the headset.

Description of the scenario

The patient is standing on a terrace of a high-rise building.
In front of him/her, there is a walkway which extends a long way out.
The patient can walk forward on this walkway and look down to the left and right.
As an alternative to walking, the patient can teleport to various points on this path.
The therapist can change the floor height and utilize additional functions.

On the buttons, the following settings can be made:

  • Floor
    Selection of the floor between 1, 3, 8, 20
  • City noises
    Activation of city noises on the lower floors
  • Wind noises
    Activation of wind noises on the upper floors
Idea:
In the real environment, a board can be placed on the floor for the patient to step on, providing a tactile sensation to complement the virtual experience.

Description of the scenario

This scenario starts in a seated position. The patient should have already taken a seat before the scenario is started. The patient is then seated on a sofa in the scenario. In front of him, there is a table on which no spider is visible at first.

On the buttons, the following settings can be made:

  • Show/hide spider
    Make the spider appear or disappear.
  • Spider movement
    Let the spider walk around.
  • Spider approaching
    Let the spider move toward the patient.
  • Spider size
    Adjust the spider’s size as desired.
  • Speed
    Adjust the spider’s speed as desired.
  • Different spider species
    Select a different type of spider.
  • Appearance of multiple spiders
    Let many spiders emerge from under the sofa.
  • Follow the stick
    Let the spider follow the stick by picking it up.
  • Spider dying
    Let the spider die.
  • Spider on the sofa
    Make the spider appear on the sofa.
  • Reset spider position
    Reset the spider to its starting position at the table.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    The patient can move around the room. With their own steps or the teleport function.
  • Pick up
    The spiders can be picked up in the virtual hand.

Description of the scenario
When your patient puts on the VR headset and you start the scenario on the computer, they are immediately placed in a car on the highway. Before you start the scenario, you can already decide whether the journey should begin on a normal stretch of road, in a tunnel or in an area of roadworks. You can also change the scenario during the journey with just one click.

On the buttons, the following settings can be made:

  • Environment Change for Tunnel, Highway, and Construction Site
  • Toggle darkness on/off
  • Show/hide rain

    -> Activate or deactivate rain, or combine both.

  • Switch to passenger mode
  • Trigger traffic jam
  • Regulate speed
  • Increase traffic flow
    Patients should then brake to allow the additional cars to overtake.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Take the steering wheel and steer
  • Can change the lane
  • Can adjust back mirror
  • Can set the indicator
  • Can regulate the speed
  • Activate windshield wipers
  • Turn on the radio
    Tap the monitor with your hand.

Description of the scenario
The patient initially stands in a treatment room. They move toward the treatment chair. A physical chair must be placed for them to sit down. As the session progresses, a doctor can draw blood or administer an injection. A male or female torso is displayed to provide a free arm for these procedures.

On the buttons, the following settings can be made:

  • Make the doctor appear
    The scenario starts without the doctor initially.
  • Upper body
    Select whether the upper body should appear female or male.
  • Doctor approaching
    Let the doctor walk toward the patient.
  • Optionally, have the doctor either draw blood or administer an injection.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Inspect syringe
    At the start, the patient can pick up a syringe and examine it closely.

Description of the scenario
The patient starts in the corner of the treatment room where the MRI machine is located. He can either go over to the tube himself or jump there using the teleport function. He can look at the tube from close up and put his head in it for a test.

The patient can lie down in your practice. At the push of a button, you can teleport him to where he has to lie down on the MRI tube. From now on, the patient experiences the rest of the procedure lying down. Including the movement into the MRI machine and the scan in the tube.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Bring the patient into the lying position in front of the MRI tube.
  • Have the patient move into the tube.
  • Start and end the scan
  • Change the size of the tube

Description of the scenario
This scenario starts in a seated position. The patient should have already taken a seat before the scenario is started. The patient is then seated on a sofa in the scenario. In front of him is a table on which there is initially no mouse visible.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Show/hide mouse
    Make the mouse appear or disappear.
  • Mouse movement
    Let the mouse walk around.
  • Mouse approaching
    Let the mouse move toward the patient.
  • Mouse size
    Adjust the mouse’s size as desired.
  • Speed
    Adjust the mouse’s speed as desired.
  • Walking on the floor
    Allow the mouse to walk around on the floor as well.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    The patient moves through the apartment either by walking or using teleportation points.
  • Pick up mouse
    The mouse can be taken in the virtual hand.

Description of the scenario
When your patient puts on the VR headset and you start the scenario on the computer, they are immediately in a bus right next to the driver.

Special features of this scenario
The bus is computer-generated, allowing patients to move freely within it. However, the landscape outside is real, creating an overall very realistic driving experience. The bus regularly stops at real bus stops and displays these stops on the screen.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Passengers
    Show or hide other passengers.
  • Teenage passengers
    Optionally, only teenagers or a mix of passengers.
  • Having conversations
    Individual conversations between passengers and the patient.
  • Eye contact
    The passengers are programmed to automatically establish eye contact during a conversation using text-to-speech.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    Walk through the bus and sit on any available seat. Alternatively, you can also teleport directly to these seats.
  • View from the window
    Look out the window and see a realistic landscape (green spaces, cars, buildings, people).
  • Press the stop button.

Description of the scenario
This scenario starts in a seated position. The patient should have already taken a seat before the scenario is started. The patient is then positioned in the scenario in a seat in the middle between two other seats.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Start
    Looking out the window and hearing the increasing engine noise creates a typical start-up experience. After a few minutes, the airplane transitions to normal flight mode.
  • Landing
    The patient also experiences a descent followed by a landing.
  • Show/hide seat neighbor
    The seat next to the patient can be occupied by a stranger (avatar) or left empty again.
  • Announcement: Turbulence
    The therapist can trigger an announcement that turbulence will occur soon.
  • Turbulence
    The therapist can trigger turbulence. The whole environment shakes. The other seat neighbors also react with corresponding movements, creating an acoustic rattling sound.
  • False alarm
    The therapist can trigger a false alarm with falling masks and passengers screaming in fear.
  • Having conversations
    Individual conversations between passengers and the patient.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    The patient can stand up and choose another seat on the plane.
  • Sun visor
    The sun visors can be opened and closed.

Description of the scenario
The patients start the scenario in the entrance area of the room. The patient walks himself or herself or teleports to the middle of the room by clicking on the controller. In front of them, there are tables set up in a U-shape with 12 people sitting there.

The patient can now begin their lecture. The therapist can trigger different reactions from the audience during this time.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Presentation audience
    Before starting, you can decide whether to have a large stage with around 150 avatars instead of the seminar room, or sit at a conference table with three avatars. This switch can also be made during the scenario.
  • Show/hide avatars
    At the conference table, you can use the number keys 1, 2, and 3 on the keyboard to make the three avatars disappear or reappear.
  • Eye contact with the audience
    Turn the audience toward the patient and have them maintain eye contact.
  • Audience reaction
    Trigger laughter, applause, or unrest from the audience.
  • Questions from the audience
    Have the avatars speak individually to the patient.
  • Individual presentation
    Clicking on “Display” opens the computer’s hard drive. From there, the patient’s uploaded images can be selected and uploaded. These will then be displayed on the screen.
  • Whiteboard instead of screen
    Clicking on “Whiteboard” replaces the screen with a whiteboard that the patient can work with.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    Patients can move freely through the rooms or use the teleport function.
  • Whiteboard
    The pen can be picked up and used to write or draw on the board.
  • Sponge
    The sponge can also be picked up and used to erase the content.

Description of the scenario
The patients start the scenario in the entrance area of the classroom. The patient walks himself or teleports himself to the middle of the classroom by clicking on the controller. In front of him are typical school desks with teenage avatars. A teacher sits next to the patient and observes him.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Eye contact
    Turn the students toward the patient and have them maintain eye contact.
  • Unrest
    Trigger laughter or unrest.
  • Questions from the audience
    Have the students or teacher speak individually to the patient.
  • Secondhand embarrassment
    Trigger a secondhand embarrassment gesture from the students.
  • Applause
    Trigger applause from the students.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    Patients move freely through the rooms or use the teleport function.
  • Chalk
    The chalk can be picked up and used to write or draw on the board.
  • Sponge
    The sponge can also be picked up and used to erase the content.

Description of the scenario
The patient is in the corner of a large break room, from where they have a good overview of the activity. He/she can walk through the room themselves or teleport to certain points by clicking on the controller.

On one side of the room there is a buffet table with drinks and food.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Event size
    The number of standing tables, each with two avatars, can be selected (0-7).
  • Having conversations
    Have the avatars speak individually to the patient.
  • Positive feedback
    Trigger positive feedback or a kind gesture, causing hearts to appear.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    Patients move freely through the rooms or use the teleport function.
  • Serving drinks
    A tray with orange juices can be picked up, and the glasses can be served individually to the avatars.
  • Setting down food
    A pizza plate and other dishes can also be picked up and placed on the standing tables.

Description of the scenario
The patients start near an elevator. Using the teleport function, you can move to the elevator door. You use your virtual hand to call the elevator and then walk in with your own steps. Once inside, you choose which floor you want to go to. then the door closes and the elevator starts moving.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Elevator size
    The size of the elevator can be set (small, medium, large).
  • Elevator speed
    The travel speed can be set.
  • Triggering stress situations
    Stress situations can be triggered: The elevator begins to shake. Elevator gets stuck and an alarm sounds
  • Adjusting the back wall
    Choose between: simple back wall, mirror, or window with an outside view.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Call elevator by pressing button
  • Take your own steps
  • Select floor. Go out again later

Description of the scenario
The patients start outdoors on a terrace. Using the teleport function, they can move throughout the entire garden. A wasp is present from the beginning.

The following settings can be adjusted using the buttons:

  • Show/hide wasps
    Make the wasps appear or disappear.
  • Protective equipment
    Make the newspaper, wooden stick, and insect spray appear.
  • Wasp follows viewer
    The wasp follows the patient.
  • Wasp follows drink
    The wasp follows the can of drink.
  • Wasp lands/takes off
    A wasp lands on the can.
  • Wasp sting
    Trigger a wasp sting.
  • Number of wasps
    Adjust the number of wasps.
  • Reset scene
    Reset the scene to the starting position.

Additionally, there are the following interaction options:

  • Navigation
    The patient can move freely through the garden – either by walking or using the teleport function.
  • Protective equipment
    The newspaper and wooden stick can be picked up and used. The insect spray can be activated. If a wasp is hit, it falls to the ground (however, one wasp always remains alive).
  • Can of drink
    The can can be picked up and opened. A colored liquid can be poured from the can.
  • Wasp sting
    A wasp lands on the back of the hand, stings the patient, and triggers haptic feedback on the controllers.
  • Wasp nest
    At the back of the garden, there is a tree with a wasp nest. The nest can be knocked to the ground with the wooden stick. Afterwards, it can be picked up and examined closely.

360-degree-films

This software package also includes 360-degree films. In contrast to the scenarios, these contents are not computer-generated but developed using a 360-degree camera.
This allows for a panoramic view, but there is no physical movement capability. Additionally, there are no settings or interaction options with films.

Since the camera tripod has been removed, some patients may get the impression that they are very high above the ground. In reality, it is exactly 170 centimeters, as the camera was positioned at that height.

If it fits the environment, we recommend using the films in a seated position, for example, with the nature scenes. In other cases, such as during the ride on a tram, a standing position would be more suitable.

Here is a list of films that contain more than one scene, along with a corresponding description of these scenes.

Some films consist of multiple sub-scenes.
Basically, there would be an automatic transition to the next scene after a short time.
Here, we recommend selecting the relevant scene by clicking on it and activating the loop by clicking again.
Patients can then remain in the respective scenes for an unlimited amount of time.

To switch from one film to the next, you must first return to the lobby to select and start another film.

Example of a film with four scenes: Before starting, select the desired scene, then check the box for the loop. Then, start the film. Only the selected scene will then be shown in a loop.

Scene 1: The patient is alone in the elevator.

Scene 2: Other people are also in the elevator.

Scene 1: One is sitting alone on a bench.

Scene 2: Other people are sitting very close on the benches.

Scene 1: One is standing at a tram stop.

Scene 2: One is standing in the tram, surrounded by other people.

Scene 3: One is standing at a bus stop.

Scene 4: One is sitting in the bus, surrounded by other people.

Scene 1: One is standing in front of the entrance door to the dental practice.

Scene 2: One is sitting in the waiting room with some other people.

Scene 3: One is standing in the treatment room, looking at the treatment chair.

Scene 4: One is in a reclined sitting position on the treatment chair, with an assistant standing behind holding various instruments.

Other films with only one scene:

      • Audience in a seminar room
      • Sun rise in Australia
      • Lonely cove in Mallorca
      • Waterfall in a primeval forest
      • Winter Landscape

The loop is automatically activated here.

Additional features

At the top of your desktop app, there are several interesting features explained under this screenshot.

  1. Here, you can rotate the scenario in any direction.
    This helps patients make the best use of the space in the room.
  2. Here, you can select the appropriate hand type for the patients.
    Male, female, or neutral.
  3. Here, you can adjust the brightness in the scenarios.
  4. Here, you can adjust the volume.
    In some scenarios, there is, for example, background music.
  5. Here, you can report any malfunctions or share ideas for further developments with us.

In some scenarios, avatars can be displayed as guests.
In the descriptions above, it says “Allow avatars to speak individually with patients.”
This uses the text-to-speech function.

In this short webinar, you will learn how to use this feature correctly.

You may have also purchased the finger sensor for biofeedback data from us.
In this short webinar, you will learn how to use this sensor correctly.

The webinars are currently available only in German.
We are planning an AI-based translation into other languages as soon as possible.

If you don’t find answers here, we are happy to assist you by phone or email!

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