In Therapy with Avatars
From: Delft University of Technology - 04/29/2011
By: Ilona van den Brink 

TU Delft researcher Willem-Paul Brinkman is leading the development of
virtual reality exposure therapy systems, which are designed to help people
that suffer from various phobias, such as the fear of flying, and social
disorders. For example, the researchers have developed a system that enables
people with a fear of flying to experience the sounds and feel of flying with
a virtual reality helmet and a vibrating seat that simulates an airplane. The
researchers also are developing the virtual pub, which reconstructs a
stressful social environment in a virtual world and will allow psychiatrists
to study psychotic symptoms to help patients with social disorders. The
program measures people's physical reactions to specific stimuli, such as
being stared at for an extended period of time, and software then analyzes
the data. The goal is to develop a method for cognitive behavioral therapy. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=1cae4061-f3ef-4585-adbf-200f1c76e3d9&lang=en

Links:
Delft Outlook
http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=f2e40f0d-0b20-4f2b-a808-10165c03e569&lang=en

Willem-Paul Brinkman
http://mmi.tudelft.nl/willem-paul/index.php/Main_Page
http://mmi.tudelft.nl/willem-paul/index.php/Literature

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
http://mmi.tudelft.nl/vret/index.php/Virtual_Reality_and_Phobias