Articles tagged with Virtual Reality
A study published in Human Reproduction found that smoking by mothers during the periconceptional period is associated with delayed embryonic development, smaller foetuses at the 20-week ultrasound scan, and lower birth weights. The delay in embryonic development was found to have a greater impact in the second trimester of pregnancy.
A new HMI system, Robotic VR, allows users to teleoperate robots with precision and feel, enabling complicated tasks such as Covid-19 swab tests and patient care. The system provides immersive feedback via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet.
Researchers developed a system using facial expressions to manipulate objects in virtual reality environments, outperforming handheld controllers in terms of immersion. The technique has potential applications for people with disabilities, including amputees and those with motor neurone disease, allowing hands-free interactions.
Researchers at UC San Diego's Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind discovered that fruit flies possess more sophisticated cognitive abilities than previously known. Using virtual reality and real-time brain imaging, they found attention, working memory, and conscious awareness-like capabilities in flies.
Researchers developed a user-centered virtual reality system to engage stroke survivors with spatial neglect in intensive therapy, showing promising results. The system uses head-mounted displays and hand-tracking technology to deliver standardized treatment in an engaging environment.
Experiencing nature scenes in Virtual Reality significantly lowers subjective stress levels among frontline healthcare workers. This innovative approach offers a potential coping mechanism for reducing psychological strain.
Researchers at the University of Göttingen found that virtual farm tours using virtual reality glasses and tablets can improve transparency in pig farming. Participants appreciated the comfortable and entertaining information intake, but suggested that additional explanations be provided to support virtual farm tours.
A virtual reality 'Shopping Task' has been developed to measure cognition and assess age-related decline. The study found that the immersive environment engaged key brain structures, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex.
Researchers from KTU proposed a deep-learning-based method for 3D human shape reconstruction using limited-angle depth data. The method can be integrated with existing virtual reality tools and has potential applications in telemedicine and remote diagnostics.
A two-year study aims to restore functional vision among veterans and service members with head trauma-related visual dysfunction using immersive virtual reality technology. Researchers will explore the feasibility and benefits of applying new technologies to rehabilitative treatment activities.
A study found that cybersickness decreases when playing a virtual reality game compared to passive watching, suggesting eye movement patterns play a key role in its occurrence. The researchers suggest developing methods to detect and mitigate cybersickness to enhance the sense of presence in VR experiences.
A study by Edith Cowan University found that 30% of people prefer discussing negative experiences with a virtual reality avatar, rather than a person. Researchers used full face and body motion capture technology to create realistic avatars, analyzing interactions between participants and avatars.
Researchers developed a VR-based archery game to understand how blind people move and orient themselves in space. The platform showed that congenital blind individuals rely on body cues rather than environmental sounds for reorientation.
Researchers used 3D printing and virtual reality to prepare for operations in 20 patients, including a 35-week-old fetus and children. The technology reduced trial and error during surgery and improved communication between anaesthesiologists and patients.
A $4.5 million civil engineering study simulates the impact of explosives on structures using a virtual reality platform to develop strategies for combat operations and protect people. The research, led by Hussam Mahmoud, aims to create more resilient structures that can withstand blasts and other forms of damage.
A team of researchers from Lund University has developed a virtual reality tool called CellexalVR to help scientists better understand the complex relationships between genes and cell types. By using VR technology, researchers can visually explore large amounts of genomic data in a more intuitive and collaborative way.
A new study suggests that the brain uses a mechanism called 'repulsion' to differentiate between similar environments. Researchers found that when participants were asked about stores shared between two cities, their brains showed surprisingly different patterns of activity, indicating that they were treating these familiar locations a...
The Stanford Computational Imaging Lab has developed a technique to reduce speckling distortion in holographic displays, while another paper proposes a method to realistically represent the physics of 3D scenes. The new system uses neural networks and camera-in-the-loop calibration for real-time adjustments.
Studies using virtual reality environments revealed that individuals with anxiety disorders exhibited increased brain activity in response to perceived threats, even in safe areas. The findings highlight the need for personalized treatments that help patients regain control over their body.
A team of scientists developed a free VR tool called singlecellVR, allowing users to explore single-cell datasets in VR. The program is built on previous advancements and enables users to visualize their own precomputed data directly from commonly used single-cell analysis tools.
Texas A&M researchers are advancing technology to give touch devices the ability to mimic physical objects, enriching virtual environments and reducing audiovisual overload. The goal is to create predictive models for designing devices with maximum haptic effect and minimum sensitivity to users and environmental variations.
Scientists studied rats in a virtual reality maze to gain a deeper understanding of the hippocampus' circuit-level functions. They discovered that hippocampal neurons encoded multiple aspects of an animal's location, including distance traveled and body direction.
Researchers discovered zebrafish neurons that monitor prediction errors to efficiently avoid danger, creating a 'hazard map' in the brain. This study sheds light on brain circuits shared across vertebrates, including humans.
A study of 80 children aged 6-10 found that young children struggle with torso control in virtual reality environments, whereas adults can easily navigate using simple body movements. The results contradict the current understanding of motor control development, suggesting that VR can disrupt traditional coordination strategies.
A research team led by NJIT's Tara Alvarez is enrolling 100 participants with persistent symptoms of convergence insufficiency (CI) post-concussion for clinical trials. The study aims to establish guidelines for diagnosing and treating CI, a disabling eye disorder causing blurred vision, headaches, and cognitive difficulties.
A recent study at Drexel University found that virtual reality art therapy can reduce prefrontal cortex activation, promoting relaxation and flow. The study also showed differences in brain function between creative self-expression and rote tracing tasks.
Researchers used fruit flies in a virtual reality setting to show that vision influences body movements by tuning postural adjustments as a preventative measure. Without vision, the limb control systems respond to balance and posture perturbations, but when vision is available, the behavioral goal of walking straight takes precedence.
A study at Children's Hospital Los Angeles shows that virtual reality can decrease pain and anxiety in children undergoing intravenous catheter placement. The technology works by shifting focus and preventing pain from being registered, leading to a more positive experience for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
The MIT-designed tactile glove can map subtle changes in pressure across the palm, helping to restore motor function after stroke. The glove's sensors can also track pulse and vital signs accurately, even during movement.
A new study by University of South Australia researchers found that virtual reality leads to better recall, spatial accuracy, and more consistent verdicts. Participants viewing a 3D scene were 9.5 times more likely to choose the same verdict than those relying on photographs.
A new wearable brain-machine interface system allows users to imagine actions and wirelessly control wheelchairs, robotic arms, or other devices. The soft and comfortable wearable device offers improved signal acquisition and accuracy compared to existing BMI systems.
University of Maryland researchers used EEG to quantify cybersickness in VR users, establishing a correlation between brain activity and self-reported symptoms. The study provides a new approach to interactively characterizing and mitigating cybersickness, improving the VR experience for all.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that virtual reality environments strengthen theta waves, a key brain rhythm for learning and memory, in rats. This finding could lead to new treatments for disorders like ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, and depression.
A study published in the Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences found that scent-enhanced virtual reality technologies can improve therapeutic benefits for chronic pain, anxiety, and mood disorders. Participants reported significant reductions in anxiety levels after OVR sessions, with improvements lasting up to three hours.
The US Army is leveraging virtual reality to advance an interdisciplinary understanding of group dynamics, particularly in small special operations teams. The research aims to identify neurological signals of influencers in groups to support Army missions.
Researchers found that playing games in virtual reality creates a 'time compression' effect, where players perceive less time passing than they think. This was observed among participants who played the game first in virtual reality, and could have implications for both benefits and harms of VR technology.
The Locomotion Vault project provides a central, freely-available resource to analyze various virtual reality locomotion techniques. Researchers and developers can use the interactive database to inform decisions about the best approach for their application, while also identifying gaps where future investigation might be necessary.
Research shows virtual humans can effectively support leadership skill practice, with statistically significant improvements seen in mixed reality settings. The study suggests that VR and MR technologies offer a wide range of applications for training, including addressing drawbacks to traditional methods.
A study by PLOS ONE found that virtual reality training with augmented multisensory cues improves user experience during training and task performance in the real world. The findings suggest that this technology can be a valuable tool for teaching essential skills like car maintenance.
Researchers found that virtual reality can reduce types of pain typically seen in patients with nerve injuries, including prickling and touch-related pain. The study also showed that VR can boost the body's natural pain inhibiting process by enhancing conditioned pain modulation.
The US Navy is developing a virtual reality personality assessment tool to improve recruitment and selection processes. The Manpower and Personnel Assessment Battery (MPAB) will use virtual reality technology, physiological markers, and real-time data analytics to assess applicants' skills and personalities.
A review of 149 articles on VR in education found that basic science, social science, and health/medicine were the most popular disciplines. VR interventions had a medium effect on learning, with disciplinary design and level of immersion influencing this effect.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that immersive VR videos of art and natural scenes elicit similar levels of 'the sublime', but with distinct sub-dimensions. Nature-based videos evoked a greater sense of vastness, existential danger, fear, and positive affect compared to art-based videos.
A new virtual reality program has been shown to reduce the physical side effects of hemodialysis in patients, such as fatigue and nausea. The program, which involves a mindfulness/meditation exercise, was found to greatly improve symptoms in patients who used it during their treatment sessions.
A virtual reality app called Easyheights has been shown to improve ability to handle real height situations, with participants able to ascend further towards the top than before training. The app uses 360° images and gradually increases perceived distance without increasing fear levels.
A new virtual reality cognitive assessment has been developed by Center for BrainHealth researchers, effectively testing executive function in everyday tasks. The study found that participants' performance is not related to their working memory capacity, but rather on their strategies and approaches.
A new study found that one in seven players still reported VR sickness 40 minutes after playing popular VR exergames like Beat Saber. Researchers caution gamers to exercise caution and wait for symptoms before engaging in higher-risk activities.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has developed a two-millimeter achromatic metalens that can focus RGB colors without aberrations, opening a path to new virtual reality platforms. The lens uses nanostructures to focus light and is the largest RGB-achromatic metalens to date.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a VR-based method to increase bodily awareness and improve motor control. The study found that artificial manipulation of agency enhances the effectiveness of rehabilitation and aid sports training techniques.
Dr. Helen Genova will lead a three-year randomized controlled trial using virtual reality job training to improve social competency skills for individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, aiming to increase employment outcomes. The study is the first to use this program in this population.
Researchers found that immersive virtual reality can reduce implicit racial bias when participants experience a neutral or positive social situation. However, a negative environment can lead to increased biases and decreased body ownership, suggesting caution in using VR as an empathy machine.
Researchers developed a wearable device called Biomechanics Sensor Node that captures user data and controls virtual environments. The system stimulates sensory systems, especially sight and hearing, to intensify central nervous system information input and output.
A UOC project has developed a 3D virtual environment to train surgeons' psychomotor skills, providing real-time feedback and metrics. The tool has been tested with over 148 users, showing its validity in improving surgeons' performance at different stages of their careers.
A study published in iScience explores the behavior of humans controlling a shared avatar in virtual reality. The research found that participants exhibited superior reaction times and more straight movements with the shared avatar compared to individual control.
Watching high-quality nature programs on TV can uplift moods and reduce negative emotions, while experiencing virtual reality nature can lead to increased positive feelings and a stronger connection to the natural world. The study found that interactive VR experiences had the most significant benefits.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed vLUME, a virtual reality software that allows for the visualization and analysis of complex biological data. This enables faster testing and analysis, leading to new discoveries and insights into fundamental problems in biology.
Researchers developed a new gaming platform to improve rehabilitation for stroke survivors with hemispatial neglect. The platform, 'c-SIGHT', uses videogame technology to engage patients and track progress.
The LEARNER project features a mixed-reality learning environment with physical, augmented, and virtual reality components to augment responders' capabilities. The platform aims to increase the speed of integration and adoption of human augmentation technologies in emergency response and other industrial sectors.
A recent study found that immersive virtual reality and slow breathing techniques can help promote bedtime relaxation and improve overall sleep quality in adolescents. The study revealed an average reduction of 6 minutes in sleep latency and a 3% increase in sleep efficiency among participants.
A new VR experience, Beyond the Ice, brings Hallett Cove's fossilized landscape to life with immersive 3D detail. Users can identify fossils, measure glacial grooves and draw rock folds using virtual tools.