Introduction

https://youtu.be/jYVRzdEl5GU

This virtual reality application is called “Beat your fear of spiders (Arachnophobia)”. It can create an immersive exposure therapy environment for users who have arachnophobia without any extra cost.

Description of the application

What the application does

The application utilizes Virtual Reality technology to create an immersive scenario involving overcoming the fear of spiders. It allows users to walk around a VR forest. When users walk into a certain trigger area, spiders will appear and surround the user. When the user has left the certain trigger area, the spiders will disappear. This allows users to gradually confront and overcome their fears at their own choice and pace.

Significance of application

In the field of mental health treatment, especially the arachnophobia treatment area, this application provides a significant new approach for people who fear spiders. Traditional therapy for phobias can be long-prepared, extremely expensive, and very limited to environmental settings. This application reduces the cost and preparation of phobias treatment by utilizing Virtual Reality technology, making it available and affordable to anyone with a compatible VR device. It can be used both individually and as a supplement to traditional clinical therapy.

It also provides a fully under-controlled exposure therapy without putting users in any danger or risky environment.

significance of the interface technology

The use of Virtual Reality technology is a significant component of the therapy process. Its immersive experience allows users are able to walk in realistic scenarios without real risks. On the other hand, VR exposure ‘also affords complete control, as the provider can control the dose and specific aspects of the exposure environment to match the specific patient’s feared stimuli and optimize individualized pacing through exposures’ (Maples-Keller, JL et al. 2017). All conditions and environment settings can be easily manipulated and modified to adapt to different users.

The possibility of VR therapy has been tested since 1995, and turned out a success rate similar to non–VR-based exposure therapy, indicating a real starting point in this field (Waldrop, 2017). The adaptability and control offered by VR technology make it an extremely potential tool in modern mental health treatment, especially for phobias like arachnophobia.

Interaction Design

Interactions inside the application are not just about user control, they are integrated within the therapeutic process. By actively engaging with the virtual environment, users are not passive observers but active participants in their therapy. This engagement enhances the effectiveness of the treatment and ensures that users are more immersive in the process.

Storyboard

Technical Development

Interface technologies have been used in this application including the Oculus Virtual Reality Player Controller, Unity UI, C# Script controlled trigger event.

When a user has opened this application, he will stand among a vivid forest, and relaxing background music which is mixed with birds chirping will start. An obvious circle with flashing text will indicate the user moves into the circle to start the therapy. After the user moved into the circle, animated spiders will appear, and background music will be changed to associate with the scenario. When the user leaves the circle, spiders will disappear again and the music will change to birds chirping same as the start.

Descriptions of 3D Models 

Fantasy Forest Environment:  A series of free forest 3D models,  set up the application environment.

 Free Fantasy Spider:  A series of free animated 3D models of spiders,  these are the main exposure therapy tools.

References

Maples-Keller, JL et al. 2017, “The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of anxiety and other psychiatric disorders,” Harvard review of psychiatry, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 103–113.

Waldrop, MM 2017, “Virtual reality therapy set for a real renaissance,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 114, no. 39, pp. 10295–10299.

Models:

TriForge Assets, (2019) 'Fantasy Forest Environment - Free Demo', Unity Asset Store, available: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/fantasy/fantasy-forest-env... [accessed 16 August 2023].

Kalamona, (2017) 'Free Fantasy Spider', Unity Asset Store, available: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/creatures/free-fantasy-spide... [accessed 16 August 2023].

Sounds: 

BurghRecords, (2019) 'Free Sound Effects - Nature Sounds (Royalty free Non-Copyrighted Sound Effects)', YouTube, available:

[accessed 17 August 2023]. 

Brian Bolger, (2021) 'Dead Forest', YouTube, available:

[accessed 17 August 2023].

Scripts:

ChatGPT, (2023) 'FlashingText', C# Script, available: Project/Asset/FlashingText [accessed 16 August 2023].

ChatGPT, (2023) 'CircleTrigger', C# Script, available: Project/Asset/CircleTrigger[accessed 16 August 2023].

ChatGPT, (2023) 'MusicTrigger', C# Script, available: Project/Asset/MusicTrigger[accessed 16 August 2023].

ChatGPT, (2023) 'TextVisibilityControl', C# Script, available: Project/Asset/CircleTrigger[accessed 16 August 2023].