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All over the world there have been many people who have suffered because exposure therapy and/or other forms of therapy just haven’t worked out for them, but thanks to extensive research, testing and access to amazing, advanced technology, Virtual Reality headsets are helping people every day in overcoming and maintaining various phobias and disabilities. Thanks to VR, people now have more options to explore, tailor and try out different ways to help improve their quality of life in a new, fun and innovative way!

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VR usage, in accordance to therapy, can be seen all across Canada. For example: Douglas Cole (President at The Image Works Alberta Inc) has created a 3D movie experience, in the genre of Dramatic movies, specifically for seniors with his Edmonton production company called “Remembering”. The film Dougles has created is about a young girl remembering her time spent with her grandparents. This was their first 3D project and is used as a tool for reminiscence therapy, using tranquil scenery of the mountains in Edmonton and a storyline with nostalgic value. The film takes a look into a series of one young girl’s memories of  pleasant summers she had spent with her grandparents. The film is screened to seniors in 11 different facilities and has received lots of positive feedback. This can really benefit seniors, in terms of recreation, by getting them to go out and socialize. This can also really benefit seniors by boosting their well-being as well as enhancing their theater experience.

Another example of how VR is improving peoples lives in the City of Hamilton, Ontario, is one of VR’s newest video game experiences: a VR arcade called “Ctrl V”. The arcade is located on Queenston Rd, on the east side of Hamilton in Stoney Creek, located in Battlefield Square Plaza. Coming here can benefit anyone at any age for some fun times to lift a person’s wellness, spirits and is “just what the doctor ordered”, so to speak. If someone is feeling down, stressed, looking to play some good video games with some friends or try something new if you’ve never tried playing a game in VR. Staff at CTRL V focus on making their facilities welcoming, safe, and awe-inspiring by maintaining the highest level of commercial virtual reality experience and taking note of health and safety precautions, as well as making VR user spaces as accessible and adaptable as possible.

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These days most Homes, Recreation Centers and assisted living residential sites all around the world own a VR set to improve their quality of life and help maintain Phobias and mental disabilities! Though there are some down sides in regard to how people may feel about the use of VR headset’s. VR has been socially accepted by majority of people, however, there are still some that say the real deal is the real deal. Parents/care givers are concerned that submerging yourself in the VR world can be toxic and hurt a person’s ability to function in real life. While this may be a reality in some cases, users have to know where to draw the line between how they should act in real life and how they should behave in a VR setting.

And of course, there are physical health risks that could apply. People using a VR headset should always be aware of their surroundings, make sure there are no dangerous items in the room they are using to play VR if walking is required. Users make sure to take a break and do a reality check, get up and stretch or walk around, and are never to wear their VR headset outdoors unless someone is there to supervise.

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In 2005, Skip Rizzo of USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, received funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and began using a tool he created using aspects from the game “Full Spectrum Warrior” for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus began the realization that VR could be used for treatment of various mental illnesses.

Virtual Iraq (a spinoff of “Full Spectrum Warrior”) was later assessed and improved to support a VR-based therapy game for aerophobia (the fear of flying), acrophobia (the fear of heights), glossophobia (the fear of public speaking) and substance abuse.

Virtual Iraq proved successful in normalization of over 70% of PTSD sufferers, and that has now become a standard accepted treatment by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Virtual Reality quickly become a fast growing trend on the internet and on August 1st, 2012, A kickstarter company named “Oculus Rift” launched five different models (founder: Palmer Luckey) which is what is commonly used today among VR users.

One of the most used characteristics of VR is the social aspect. With a VR headset, users can virtually engage/interact with one another in a video game setting and the use of interacting through avatars. Some of the most popular platforms include: Facebook’s “Spaces,” and VR-Chat where interactive content and live, customizable avatars are able to come hand in hand for a fun, light spirited, social experience. These platforms are able enhance general communication skills to better one’s real life social experience.

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all over the world, people have good days and they have bad days. but there are some that suffer more than others. I'm taking about disabilities and impairments.There are all kinds of barriers people with disabilities/impairments face every day, people can have issues socializing, people who struggle with phobia's and people who struggle with self confidence. Well to those people who suffer from all of the above and more, there is a solution!

Technology has come so far and advanced so fast, and thanks to that people have invented some amazing tools that can help assist us in our everyday lives! There are many, assistive tools out there that we use daily, but in this article, I will be talking specifically about Virtual Reality (VR)/how the equipment necessary to reach VR can be used for therapy and how it can benefit almost anyone in helping to maintain social interaction and upholding therapy treatment.

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