Low Cost Devices Used in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

The Virtual Reality technology is nowadays dynamically developed, thanks to appearance of low-cost devices and interest by large companies related to entertainment, communication and visualization. It is especially important in medicine, as it allows a much wider access to tools such as Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy. The paper presents possibilities of using low-cost VR devices in curing phobias by exposure to a stress-generating factor in an immersive virtual environment. Several use scenarios are presented for a simple application aimed at exposing a patient to fear of heights. A test group consisted of healthy individuals. To evaluate level of immersion and fear caused by the application, a heart rate monitor was used, to record heartbeat in real time.

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