vret - User contributions [en-gb]

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T14:02:49Z

Fatma Inan: /* Project */

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

Graduated: [[News#Fatma_Inan_and_Ervin_Sabadi_graduated|2008]]

== Project ==
Project: [[Social Phobia|Social Phobia]]
:Title: [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/vret_oud/images/9/9f/Thesis_FInan.pdf Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality]

=== Abstract ===
Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer simulated environment and could offer a powerful tool in the future treatment of phobias. An application of VR is Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in which a phobia patient is exposed to a virtual environment containing the feared stimulus instead of being taken into a real environment or having to imagine the stimulus. This research aims to examine if the simulated social situation in the prototype virtual environment, especially developed for this purpose, is able to provoke the same behavioral response as the real life situation. If this is the case, it would be a step towards implementation of VRET in social phobia treatment. Two cases were examined in the prototype virtual environment to assess whether it was able to recreated social behavior of people. First, we examined if participant who enter a crowded room in the virtual environment prefer to take a seat in a chair that is close to them. Secondly, we investigated if participants in the virtual environment have the tendency to physically distance themselves from strangers when choosing a seat in a room full of strangers. We covered the prototype design of a social situation in a virtual world, the implementation of the prototype, the applied software and techniques and the results of a pilot experiment with the virtual world. We concluded, based on the two cases we examined during our experiments, that a social situation can be recreated in a virtual world.

=== Conclusion ===
We designed and implemented a prototype virtual environment for the treatment of social phobia. The applied software and techniques were presented and used for the implementation of the prototype. We implemented three main elements of social phobia into our virtual environment to induce social phobia symptoms such as anticipated anxiety. We performed the experiment, evaluated the result and have reached our research goals for this thesis.
With the experiment we observed that people entering a room with strangers prefer to sit down on a chair close to them. We also observed that the participants preferred the chair with no avatars around them rather than the chairs with avatars surrounding it. The reaction of the participants to the implemented virtual situation was in accordance with the assumed behavioral response. Since social phobia patients show an extreme form of the responses that people without social phobia experience we can conclude that the real life social situation has been successfully recreated in the VR environment.
We can unfortunately not confirm that the prototype can be used for VRET for social phobia, because we had a very limited number of social phobia participants to draw that conclusion. However, we have recreated a social situation in VR and made a first step towards a virtual environment that can serve as a prototype for virtual worlds that will be built in the future to treat social phobia with VRET.

=== Recommendations ===
The prototype used in the experiment covers several requirements for social phobia. There are already two parameters implemented in the prototype that could be manipulated by therapist during exposure therapy, but still a lot of improvements can be made.
The design of the room can be more symmetric and the navigation could be changed, e.g. by making the participants walk through the room and between the chairs to provoke anxiety. For graded exposure, anxiety arousing sounds could be added into the virtual environment such as a whole group that starts laughing when the patient enters the room.
The number of avatars can vary, manipulated and be placed on different chairs. More interaction between the avatars and the patient can be built in the virtual environment such as a conversation and eye contact.
The objective measurements like heart rate and perspiration could be used to test if a situation has indeed provoked anxiety.
All of these aspects can be incorporated in the future in our prototype to achieve a more improved VRET for social phobia.

=== Demo ===
<anyweb>http://www.youtube.com/v/JK-vVMMN43Y&hl=nl&fs=1</anyweb>

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:59:28Z

Fatma Inan:

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

Graduated: [[News#Fatma_Inan_and_Ervin_Sabadi_graduated|2008]]

== Project ==
Project: [[Social Phobia|Social Phobia]]
:Title: Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality

=== Abstract ===
Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer simulated environment and could offer a powerful tool in the future treatment of phobias. An application of VR is Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in which a phobia patient is exposed to a virtual environment containing the feared stimulus instead of being taken into a real environment or having to imagine the stimulus. This research aims to examine if the simulated social situation in the prototype virtual environment, especially developed for this purpose, is able to provoke the same behavioral response as the real life situation. If this is the case, it would be a step towards implementation of VRET in social phobia treatment. Two cases were examined in the prototype virtual environment to assess whether it was able to recreated social behavior of people. First, we examined if participant who enter a crowded room in the virtual environment prefer to take a seat in a chair that is close to them. Secondly, we investigated if participants in the virtual environment have the tendency to physically distance themselves from strangers when choosing a seat in a room full of strangers. We covered the prototype design of a social situation in a virtual world, the implementation of the prototype, the applied software and techniques and the results of a pilot experiment with the virtual world. We concluded, based on the two cases we examined during our experiments, that a social situation can be recreated in a virtual world.

=== Conclusion ===
We designed and implemented a prototype virtual environment for the treatment of social phobia. The applied software and techniques were presented and used for the implementation of the prototype. We implemented three main elements of social phobia into our virtual environment to induce social phobia symptoms such as anticipated anxiety. We performed the experiment, evaluated the result and have reached our research goals for this thesis.
With the experiment we observed that people entering a room with strangers prefer to sit down on a chair close to them. We also observed that the participants preferred the chair with no avatars around them rather than the chairs with avatars surrounding it. The reaction of the participants to the implemented virtual situation was in accordance with the assumed behavioral response. Since social phobia patients show an extreme form of the responses that people without social phobia experience we can conclude that the real life social situation has been successfully recreated in the VR environment.
We can unfortunately not confirm that the prototype can be used for VRET for social phobia, because we had a very limited number of social phobia participants to draw that conclusion. However, we have recreated a social situation in VR and made a first step towards a virtual environment that can serve as a prototype for virtual worlds that will be built in the future to treat social phobia with VRET.

=== Recommendations ===
The prototype used in the experiment covers several requirements for social phobia. There are already two parameters implemented in the prototype that could be manipulated by therapist during exposure therapy, but still a lot of improvements can be made.
The design of the room can be more symmetric and the navigation could be changed, e.g. by making the participants walk through the room and between the chairs to provoke anxiety. For graded exposure, anxiety arousing sounds could be added into the virtual environment such as a whole group that starts laughing when the patient enters the room.
The number of avatars can vary, manipulated and be placed on different chairs. More interaction between the avatars and the patient can be built in the virtual environment such as a conversation and eye contact.
The objective measurements like heart rate and perspiration could be used to test if a situation has indeed provoked anxiety.
All of these aspects can be incorporated in the future in our prototype to achieve a more improved VRET for social phobia.

=== Demo ===
<anyweb>http://www.youtube.com/v/JK-vVMMN43Y&hl=nl&fs=1</anyweb>

News

2009-01-08T13:58:47Z

Fatma Inan: /* Fatma Inan and Ervin Sabadi graduated */

__TOC__
== The BEST for 2009 ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 23, 2008</small></div>
The research teams of Delft and Amsterdam wish you all the best for the new year 2009. This new year we will work hard on a system for SOCIAL phobia treatment.

== Report on Presence and Anxiety ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 4, 2008, 2008</small></div>
Liesbeth Kuiper (student Research Master Clinical Psychology from Leiden University) published a report on her internship at VALK foundation. The report is in Dutch (Stageverslag) but the core chapter Presence & Anxiety is in English. Look under Publications and scroll to Reports.

== Fatma Inan and Ervin Sabadi graduated ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 21, 2008</small></div>
Our master students [[User:Fatma Inan|Fatma]] and Ervin graduated in November 2008. The title of Fatma's thesis is: Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality. Ervin's thesis is entitled: Reaching a higher sense of presence in VR through 3D architectural visualization.

== First scientific field study on VRET results in a Dutch clinic ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 30, 2008</small></div>
Wiersma, J, Greeven, A., Berretty, E., Krijn, M en Emmelkamp, P. (2008). De effectiviteit van Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy voor hoogtevrees in de klinische praktijk. Gedragstherapie, 41, p. 253-259. (in Dutch)-- Look under [[Publications|Publications]] on this site.

'''Summary in English'''. The effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for patients with acrophobia in clinical practice. The effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for patients with acrophobia has been shown in several academic settings. However, it is not clear if these results can be translated to the daily clinical practice. This article describes the effectiveness of VRET of acrophobia in a centre for anxiety disorders. Thirty-two patients participated in the study. At post-treatment there was a significant reduction of acrophobia and avoidance and participants gained significantly more self-efficacy and a more positive attitude towards heights. The effect sizes were high and comparable to those found in academic settings. It can be concluded that the effectiveness of VRET in academic settings can be translated to clinical practice. In short, VRET is a promising, and time-limited treatment for acrophobia. Key words: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, acrophobia, clinical practice

== Interesting Blog about our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>September 17, 2008</small></div>
Eliane Alhadeff published an interesting blog about our project. She made a very good op-to-date summary of current and future research on VRET in Delft. Here is the [http://elianealhadeff.blogspot.com/2008/09/vret_oud-serious-games-treat-anxiety.html link].

== New Video Tutorial available ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 8, 2008</small></div>
Two Delft students produced a new video tutorial about the use of our DVRET system for fear of flying. The focus is to explain the operational procedures of the VRET software to non-technical '''therapists'''. First, a general description is given of the DVRET system. Then, the main functionality, which is exposed by the graphic user interface of the VRET software, be discussed in a short session. This is followed by a schematic description of all the operational tasks, such as takeoff and landing of the airplane, which could be performed with a therapeutic session. Lastly, a few of these tasks will be described in more detail. Two video's are part of of the tutorial. Text on screen is in English, all voice overs are in Dutch.

== Our project in QUEST ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 16, 2008</small></div>
In the Dutch popular science journal Quest an article is published on fear of flying. The title is "Ontspannen Op Reis". Issue of Quest 07/2008 pp. 52-55. The work of our partner VALK and our Delft VRET system is presented.

== New poster about our VRET project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 9, 2008</small></div>
A new poster of our project and system is designed by Willem-Paul Brinkman. Our new focus on social phobia is presented. You can download it [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/images/Poster_VRET2008.pdf here]. (pdf)

== Junior TU Delft on VRET [continued] ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>April 28, 2008</small></div>
The highschool students finished the course on VRET succesfully. Four worlds were developed for treating social phobia. They are evaluated with scenarios designed by the highschool students themselves! The worlds are: Platform on a train station, Bus stop, Clothing shop and Reception desk of a restaurant. Made with Maya and run in UnReal. With talking avatars. Here are impressions of the worlds. The implementation is done by Daniel de Vliegher.

<gallery widths="300px">
Image:News_Bushalte.jpg
Image:News_Restaurant.jpg
Image:News_Treinstation.jpg
Image:News_Winkel.jpg
</gallery>

== Junior TU Delft on VRET ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2008</small></div>
Delft University of Technology presents during March and April 2008 a course on VRET for high school students in Randstad. In 5 days the students (5-6 VWO) design a virtual world for treating fear for public speaking. The real implementation is done by our master students.

== Lecture on the Delft VRET system ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2008</small></div>
For the course Highly Interactive Systems of the master programme Media and Knowledge Enineering at Delft Charles van der Mast gave a lecture about the architecture and the development of the Delft VRET system. The lecture takes 45 minutes. The recording of voice and slides is [http://yukon.twi.tudelft.nl/weblectures/IN4034_08/Lecture4A/in4034_Lecture4A.html here].

== Master thesis by Siemen Roorda ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 14, 2008</small></div>
Our master student Siemen Roorda finished his Thesis for the programme Media and Knowledge Engineering The title is: Develop[ing a general framework for the Delft VRET application. He re-implemented our system based on Vizard and the programming language Python. Look under [[Publications|Publications/Reports]] at this site.

== Research Assignment by Ervin Sabadi ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 7, 2007</small></div>
Our master student Ervin Sabadi finished his Research Assignment on VRET for agoraphobia from a home ententainment perspective. Look under [[Publications|Publications/Reports]] at this site.

== Delft VRET system in use at University of Amsterdam ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 12, 2007</small></div>
[[image:VRET-system-UvA-crop.jpg|left|thumb|300px|The Delft VRET system for research at University of Amsterdam in the group of Prof. Paul Emmelkamp.]]
Paul Emmelkamp and his group is using the Delft VRET system now for new controlled experiments. Katharina Meyerbröker started her PhD project in September 2007. Recently a new HMD was delivered by Cybermind. Here you see one of the worlds for acrophobia.

== Delft VRET system in use at VALK foundation ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 5, 2007</small></div>
VALK foundation in Leiden is using the Delft VRET system now on a large scale with several therapists. An internal workshop is given this month. Here is how the system looks while being tested in a new room. All cables are invisible now!

<gallery>
Image:VRETsystemVALK07.jpg|The Delft VRET system for treating fear of flying at VALK in Leiden
Image:DVRETsystem2.jpg|at Delft University of Technology
</gallery>

== Xbox live and Second life ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 3, 2007</small></div>
This month we started a project to investigate the possibilities of Xbox Live and Second Life (and others) to function as a technical platform for phobia treatment.

== New world for fear of flying ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>August 17, 2007</small></div>
Burak Aslan finished his bachelor project to build a new VR-world for treating fear of flying. He developed a complete new cabin of a KLM Boeing 737-800 with high quality graphics. This virtual environment is far more realistic than the previous one we have. Also Schiphol airport is completely redesigned by Kenan Saracevic. Google Earth is used to show the view through the window during the flight. This is still a prototype we have to improve. Modelled with Maya and run with Quest-3D. You can find his report under Publications-section Reports. More information from Charles van der Mast, see Team.

<gallery>
Image:FoF07.jpg
Image:Airport_from_air.jpg
Image:Final_gate_3.jpg
</gallery>

== AWARE Psychology ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2007</small></div>
Our system is described in the new Dutch science magazine Aware Psychology. The title is Virtuele wereld IN/UIT.

== Bacinol Expo ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2007</small></div>
From June 6 - July 8 our VRET system will be present on an exhibition Virtual Realism. Several research projects are presented for a general public.

== VRET for hiking ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 31, 2007</small></div>
On March 15 two journalists of the popular Dutch Journal '''Op Pad''' (for adventures and hiking) visited our project. They are very interested in VRET for hikers suffering acrophobia in the mountains. The article is published in May 2007, Op Pad, Vol 4, pp. 70-73.[In Dutch: Een '''lichte trilling''' gaat door je lijf, je handen worden klam, '''je hartslag''' loopt op, '''je ademhaling''' versnelt, '''je pupillen''' worden groter, '''de haren in je nek''' staan overeind... HELP, see: http://www.oppad.nl]. Our system is used by [http://www.psyq.nl/ PsyQ] for treating acrophobia (hoogtevrees, zeer effectief! You may contact PsyQ).

== Thesis on Augmented Reality ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Mar 16, 2007</small></div>
Marlon Richert finished his Thesis, too. Look under [[Publications|Publications]], categrory Reports.

== Survey on treating Hemiplegia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Jan 16, 2007</small></div>
Marlon Richert finished his Research Assignment on treating hemiplegia. Look under [[Publications|Publications]], categrory Reports.

== Workshop for GGZ Nederland ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Oct 6, 2006</small></div>
On Wednesday October 4, 2006 we gave two workshops for the visitors of a GGZ Nederland conference in MediaPlaza/Utrecht. Charles van der Mast, Paul Emmelkamp and Martijn Schuemie gave a presentation for very interested therapists. Martijn discussed the demands from the clinics (therapists and managers) for applying VRET. To implement VRET in clinics a commercial version of the system is needed. Martijn will start to develop this in close collaboration with the research project. The fundamental research will be continued of course.
Some pictures of the workshop are [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/WorkshopsGGZ-NL.pdf here].

== DVRET at Parnassia / PsyQ ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Sep 14, 2006</small></div>
At Parnassia / PsyQ about 60 patients have been treated for acrophobia. In four sessions of 90 minutes each the treatment could be finished successfully. Drop-out rate was low. See [http://www.psyq.nl/ here].

== DVD on our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 3, 2006</small></div>
[[Image:DVD_box.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
Students from our bachelor program Media&Knowledge Engineering have produced an interesting DVD about our vrphobia project (in English). On the DVD you find an overview of the VRET system we made, some scientific results, many publications and some interviews of team members (in Dutch&English). Interested? Ask Charles van der Mast. You will get a copy.

Look [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/DVD_shots.pdf here] for screenshots (8MB pdf) of the DVD.

== VRET and Serious Games! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 23, 2005</small></div>
On November 21, Charles van der Mast presented our project and system at a seminar of Media Plaza (Utrecht). This seminar was organized to bring together professional computer game producers under the label "Serious Games". VRET was presented as a great example of a serious game in which emotions are controlled more carefully and accurately than in commercial games. Interesting collaborations may emerge!

== New World for agoraphobia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 6, 2005</small></div>
Frans Hooplot implemented the Markt in Delft as a new world for treatment of agoraphobia. A lot of parameters can be changed by the therapist. Three photo's are here.

<gallery>
Image:MarktDelft_SMALL.jpg
Image:Markt1_SMALL.jpg
Image:Markt2_SMALL.jpg
</gallery>

== Visit to Valencia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>August 6, 2005</small></div>
On July 21, Charles van der Mast visited the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia where he met our collegues Mariano Alcaniz, Carmen Juan, Jose Lozano and Sole Quero. And our Delft master student Dennis Joele.
Here are two photo's with Mariano (left) and Charles (right).

<gallery>
Image:Mariano2_Edited.jpg
Image:Charles2Edited.jpg
</gallery>

== VRET transfered to PsyQ in the Hague ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 6, 2005</small></div>
Today, July 6, we transfered a dedicated VRET system to the headquarters of PsyQ (part of Parnassia) in the Hague. From this week on, PsyQ will treat patients with fear of heights and claustrophobia within virtual worlds. The transfer was without problems and we are expecting great results. PsyQ will remain an important partner in the future, too. For more information about PsyQ and the phobia treatments, take a look at PsyQ's [http://psyq.nl/programma/angststoornissen website] (in Dutch).
This is the first time the VRET system is actually used in a clinic, rather than the research lab which was the case until now. If you are interested in a complete system in your clinic, please contact [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/vrteam.html Charles van der Mast].

<gallery>
Image:Vret_psyq_1.jpg
Image:Vret_psyq_2.jpg
</gallery>

== Technological challenges for VRET ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 23, 2005</small></div>
The participation to the NATO Advanced Research Workshop generated a lot of value and interest for our project. We chaired a workgroup 2 and the slides we discussed with the participants plenarily are included [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/NATO_ARW_PTSD_GROUP2.pdf here]. The draft of our paper is [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/VANDERMAST_NATO050.pdf here].
[Mast, C. van der, Popovic, S., Lam, D., Castelnuovo, G., Kral, P. & Mihajlovic, Z. (2005). Technological challenges in the use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, Amsterdam IOS Press. (in press)] A book will be published later.

== Phobia treatment over the Internet! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2005</small></div>
Today, June 1, we proved that our VRET-system can work over the internet. Our VRET-system is composed of two separate computers. The therapist computer can control the patient computer containing the virtual worlds completely. In this way the therapist can treat patients in other clinics or home. An intercom connection is needed for normal human communication between therapist and patient. The principle works. Now we have to prepare usability studies.

== Collaboration with Universidad Politecnica de Valencia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 26, 2005</small></div>
Dennis Joele is a student from the master programme Media & Knowledge Engineering of Delft. He is doing his master thesis project at the Medical Image Computing Laboratory of the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. His local supervisor is Dr. Maria Carmen Juan-Lizandra. From Delft he is supervised by Charles van der Mast. Dennis just finished his research assignment "Augmented Reality using ARToolkit with user invisable markers". He will continue his project at Valencia. This is the start of a collaboration on VRET.

== NATO Advanced Research Workshop ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 19, 2005</small></div>
Paul Emmelkamp and Charles van der Mast will participate in the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Novel Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. June 13-15, 2005, Dubrovnik, Croatia. They will moderate workshops on Outcomes Measurement and Issues in Follow-up, and Technological Challenges in the Use of VR. We will report on the outcome.

== New Partners ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2005</small></div>
Two official partners are added to the list. Mentrum and CyberMind sent us a Letter of Intent to support a new research project on VRET we are preparing now. [http://www.mentrum.nl/ Mentrum] is an organisation of about 1000 employees treating mental disorders in Amsterdam. They treat about 15,000 clients a year for mental disorders and a part of them for phobias. [http://www.cybermind.nl/ CyberMind] is a leading provider of VR equipment in the EU. They deliver the hardware components of our VRET system to implement the virtual worlds. They develop head mounted devices and they resell products of other developers. They will contribute in developing a special version of a HMD suited for phobia treatment in the future.

== New Partner Parnassia/PsyQ ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 11, 2005</small></div>
Recently [http://www.parnassia.nl/ Parnassia] sent us a Letter of Intent to participate in a new research project we are preparing right now. We will collaborate in developing new worlds and new treatment procedures. Parnassia will be involved in field studies. They will buy a copy of our VRET-system to train the therapists and to start VRET treatment with patients in their own clinics. Parnassia is a large organisation of about 3000 employees who provide instruction, treatment, coaching and nursing of people with psycho-medical problems or disorders. Parnassia is operating in about 30 clinics in the province of Zuid-Holland. About 40 phobia therapists are working for Parnassia.

== Our project at NGC in the Netherlands ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>January 10, 2005</small></div>
On Wednesday January 12, 2005 our project will be presented in the program Hot Sciences from Holland. Time 9 p.m. This video was produced almost two years agoo but the content is still very up-to-date in 2005! Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/VR-1.wmv Phobia VR treatment movie] for the movie in dutch (copyright NGC). This program is being broadcasted all over the world by NGC.

== Parnassia/PsyQ visiting our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 2rd</small></div>
On October 28, 2004 about 35 (!!!) phobia therapists from the health institute Parnassia in the Hague visited our project. Charles van der Mast and Paul Emmelkamp gave an overview of the project and the impressive results. Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/Parnassia/Foto.htm here] for some pictures.

== Our project at IST 2004 ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>September 23th</small></div>
Our project will be present at the European IST 2004 Event - Participate in your future. Participants will be there from all European countries. This year's edition of the most important European Information Society Technologies (IST) event is organised under the EU’s Dutch Presidency by the European Commission in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. The event will include a conference, an exhibition of research results and networking facilities for the about 4000 participants. The overall themes are "People" and "Economy". At the exhibition our system for fear of flying treatment is demonstrated. Look at [http://europa.eu.int/information_society/istevent/2004/index_en.htm This link] for the website. [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/ist_2004_100kbps.wmv Click here] to view the movie. And [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/ist2004_fotos/display.htm Click here] to view the pictures.

== SuperAssist ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 15th</small></div>
The group MMI at Delft University got funds from IOP-MMI (in cooperation with other patners) for a research project SuperAssist on Personal assistants for distributed supervision of complex task environments, see [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~charles/SuperAssistAbstract.pdf abstract]. The application domain is medical. Later VRET may be supported by results from SuperAssist.

== Our project at TV Quiz Hoe?Zo! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Dec 15th</small></div>
Our project contributed to the interesting sience quiz Hoe?Zo! at Dutch TV on December 11, 2003. Rio and Charles were present. This is a [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/hoezo.gif screen] of the explanation for our question: Does treatment of acrophobia help 20 % or 50 % or almost 100% of the patients? The last possibility is the right one.

== KLM pilots visiting our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 5</small></div>
On June 24, 2003 some pilots from KLM, therapists and the board of Stichting VALK visited our project at Delft. They are all involved in regular therapies for fear of flying. They experienced our vrphobia system personally in the role of patient as well as therapist. As experts they were impressed by the experiences using the newest version with more realistic features developed by Lucy Gunawan, including an enhanced user interface for the therapist. Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/valk.jpg here] to see some pictures.

== Our Project on National Geographic ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 5</small></div>
On January 31, 2003 a team of film makers visited our project in Amsterdam. They filmed the treatment of acrophobia with a real patient, including the intake interview and the interview after the treatment. They also recorded the virtual world for fear of flying treatment. The film will be broadcasted worldwide in the Autumn 2003. Click [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/natgeopics.jpg here] to see the pictures.

== Our therapy and system again on Dutch TV ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 30</small></div>
The well known Dutch AVRO TV show "Vinger aan de pols" covered phobia treatment in November 2002. The presenter Pia Dijkstra discussed phobia treatment extensively with Prof. Paul Emmelkamp. Merel Krijn is shown treating (in the background of the discussion) an acrophobia patient using our system. You can see the entire show or scenes of the show (in Dutch) below in [http://real.com/ RealMedia]. The codec used is RealVideo 9.

{|
|-
|'''Scene''' || '''Duration''' || '''56K dial-up modem'''|| '''128K Dual ISDN''' || '''256K DSL or Cable'''
|-
|Annemieke on her fear of heights || 31 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 1 || 3 min. 29 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 2 || 16 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 3 || 57 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|VR-world for fear of heights, part 1 || 1 min. 57 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on VR-treatments || 3 min. 3 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|VR-world for fear of heights, part 2 || 2 min. 25 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 4 || 27 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Entire show || 34 min. 54 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|}

== Cooperation with the VALK Foundation ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 29th</small></div>
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new partner: [http://www.valk.org/ the VALK Foundation]. This organisation is specialised in treatment of fear of flying and is connected to [http://www.leidenuniv.nl/ the University of Leiden]. More news on our cooperation will follow.

News

2009-01-08T13:58:29Z

Fatma Inan: /* Fatma Inan and Ervin Sabadi graduated */

__TOC__
== The BEST for 2009 ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 23, 2008</small></div>
The research teams of Delft and Amsterdam wish you all the best for the new year 2009. This new year we will work hard on a system for SOCIAL phobia treatment.

== Report on Presence and Anxiety ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 4, 2008, 2008</small></div>
Liesbeth Kuiper (student Research Master Clinical Psychology from Leiden University) published a report on her internship at VALK foundation. The report is in Dutch (Stageverslag) but the core chapter Presence & Anxiety is in English. Look under Publications and scroll to Reports.

== Fatma Inan and Ervin Sabadi graduated ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 21, 2008</small></div>
Our master students [[Fatma Inan|Fatma]] and Ervin graduated in November 2008. The title of Fatma's thesis is: Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality. Ervin's thesis is entitled: Reaching a higher sense of presence in VR through 3D architectural visualization.

== First scientific field study on VRET results in a Dutch clinic ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 30, 2008</small></div>
Wiersma, J, Greeven, A., Berretty, E., Krijn, M en Emmelkamp, P. (2008). De effectiviteit van Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy voor hoogtevrees in de klinische praktijk. Gedragstherapie, 41, p. 253-259. (in Dutch)-- Look under [[Publications|Publications]] on this site.

'''Summary in English'''. The effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for patients with acrophobia in clinical practice. The effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for patients with acrophobia has been shown in several academic settings. However, it is not clear if these results can be translated to the daily clinical practice. This article describes the effectiveness of VRET of acrophobia in a centre for anxiety disorders. Thirty-two patients participated in the study. At post-treatment there was a significant reduction of acrophobia and avoidance and participants gained significantly more self-efficacy and a more positive attitude towards heights. The effect sizes were high and comparable to those found in academic settings. It can be concluded that the effectiveness of VRET in academic settings can be translated to clinical practice. In short, VRET is a promising, and time-limited treatment for acrophobia. Key words: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, acrophobia, clinical practice

== Interesting Blog about our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>September 17, 2008</small></div>
Eliane Alhadeff published an interesting blog about our project. She made a very good op-to-date summary of current and future research on VRET in Delft. Here is the [http://elianealhadeff.blogspot.com/2008/09/vret_oud-serious-games-treat-anxiety.html link].

== New Video Tutorial available ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 8, 2008</small></div>
Two Delft students produced a new video tutorial about the use of our DVRET system for fear of flying. The focus is to explain the operational procedures of the VRET software to non-technical '''therapists'''. First, a general description is given of the DVRET system. Then, the main functionality, which is exposed by the graphic user interface of the VRET software, be discussed in a short session. This is followed by a schematic description of all the operational tasks, such as takeoff and landing of the airplane, which could be performed with a therapeutic session. Lastly, a few of these tasks will be described in more detail. Two video's are part of of the tutorial. Text on screen is in English, all voice overs are in Dutch.

== Our project in QUEST ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 16, 2008</small></div>
In the Dutch popular science journal Quest an article is published on fear of flying. The title is "Ontspannen Op Reis". Issue of Quest 07/2008 pp. 52-55. The work of our partner VALK and our Delft VRET system is presented.

== New poster about our VRET project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 9, 2008</small></div>
A new poster of our project and system is designed by Willem-Paul Brinkman. Our new focus on social phobia is presented. You can download it [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/images/Poster_VRET2008.pdf here]. (pdf)

== Junior TU Delft on VRET [continued] ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>April 28, 2008</small></div>
The highschool students finished the course on VRET succesfully. Four worlds were developed for treating social phobia. They are evaluated with scenarios designed by the highschool students themselves! The worlds are: Platform on a train station, Bus stop, Clothing shop and Reception desk of a restaurant. Made with Maya and run in UnReal. With talking avatars. Here are impressions of the worlds. The implementation is done by Daniel de Vliegher.

<gallery widths="300px">
Image:News_Bushalte.jpg
Image:News_Restaurant.jpg
Image:News_Treinstation.jpg
Image:News_Winkel.jpg
</gallery>

== Junior TU Delft on VRET ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2008</small></div>
Delft University of Technology presents during March and April 2008 a course on VRET for high school students in Randstad. In 5 days the students (5-6 VWO) design a virtual world for treating fear for public speaking. The real implementation is done by our master students.

== Lecture on the Delft VRET system ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2008</small></div>
For the course Highly Interactive Systems of the master programme Media and Knowledge Enineering at Delft Charles van der Mast gave a lecture about the architecture and the development of the Delft VRET system. The lecture takes 45 minutes. The recording of voice and slides is [http://yukon.twi.tudelft.nl/weblectures/IN4034_08/Lecture4A/in4034_Lecture4A.html here].

== Master thesis by Siemen Roorda ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 14, 2008</small></div>
Our master student Siemen Roorda finished his Thesis for the programme Media and Knowledge Engineering The title is: Develop[ing a general framework for the Delft VRET application. He re-implemented our system based on Vizard and the programming language Python. Look under [[Publications|Publications/Reports]] at this site.

== Research Assignment by Ervin Sabadi ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 7, 2007</small></div>
Our master student Ervin Sabadi finished his Research Assignment on VRET for agoraphobia from a home ententainment perspective. Look under [[Publications|Publications/Reports]] at this site.

== Delft VRET system in use at University of Amsterdam ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 12, 2007</small></div>
[[image:VRET-system-UvA-crop.jpg|left|thumb|300px|The Delft VRET system for research at University of Amsterdam in the group of Prof. Paul Emmelkamp.]]
Paul Emmelkamp and his group is using the Delft VRET system now for new controlled experiments. Katharina Meyerbröker started her PhD project in September 2007. Recently a new HMD was delivered by Cybermind. Here you see one of the worlds for acrophobia.

== Delft VRET system in use at VALK foundation ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 5, 2007</small></div>
VALK foundation in Leiden is using the Delft VRET system now on a large scale with several therapists. An internal workshop is given this month. Here is how the system looks while being tested in a new room. All cables are invisible now!

<gallery>
Image:VRETsystemVALK07.jpg|The Delft VRET system for treating fear of flying at VALK in Leiden
Image:DVRETsystem2.jpg|at Delft University of Technology
</gallery>

== Xbox live and Second life ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 3, 2007</small></div>
This month we started a project to investigate the possibilities of Xbox Live and Second Life (and others) to function as a technical platform for phobia treatment.

== New world for fear of flying ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>August 17, 2007</small></div>
Burak Aslan finished his bachelor project to build a new VR-world for treating fear of flying. He developed a complete new cabin of a KLM Boeing 737-800 with high quality graphics. This virtual environment is far more realistic than the previous one we have. Also Schiphol airport is completely redesigned by Kenan Saracevic. Google Earth is used to show the view through the window during the flight. This is still a prototype we have to improve. Modelled with Maya and run with Quest-3D. You can find his report under Publications-section Reports. More information from Charles van der Mast, see Team.

<gallery>
Image:FoF07.jpg
Image:Airport_from_air.jpg
Image:Final_gate_3.jpg
</gallery>

== AWARE Psychology ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2007</small></div>
Our system is described in the new Dutch science magazine Aware Psychology. The title is Virtuele wereld IN/UIT.

== Bacinol Expo ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2007</small></div>
From June 6 - July 8 our VRET system will be present on an exhibition Virtual Realism. Several research projects are presented for a general public.

== VRET for hiking ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 31, 2007</small></div>
On March 15 two journalists of the popular Dutch Journal '''Op Pad''' (for adventures and hiking) visited our project. They are very interested in VRET for hikers suffering acrophobia in the mountains. The article is published in May 2007, Op Pad, Vol 4, pp. 70-73.[In Dutch: Een '''lichte trilling''' gaat door je lijf, je handen worden klam, '''je hartslag''' loopt op, '''je ademhaling''' versnelt, '''je pupillen''' worden groter, '''de haren in je nek''' staan overeind... HELP, see: http://www.oppad.nl]. Our system is used by [http://www.psyq.nl/ PsyQ] for treating acrophobia (hoogtevrees, zeer effectief! You may contact PsyQ).

== Thesis on Augmented Reality ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Mar 16, 2007</small></div>
Marlon Richert finished his Thesis, too. Look under [[Publications|Publications]], categrory Reports.

== Survey on treating Hemiplegia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Jan 16, 2007</small></div>
Marlon Richert finished his Research Assignment on treating hemiplegia. Look under [[Publications|Publications]], categrory Reports.

== Workshop for GGZ Nederland ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Oct 6, 2006</small></div>
On Wednesday October 4, 2006 we gave two workshops for the visitors of a GGZ Nederland conference in MediaPlaza/Utrecht. Charles van der Mast, Paul Emmelkamp and Martijn Schuemie gave a presentation for very interested therapists. Martijn discussed the demands from the clinics (therapists and managers) for applying VRET. To implement VRET in clinics a commercial version of the system is needed. Martijn will start to develop this in close collaboration with the research project. The fundamental research will be continued of course.
Some pictures of the workshop are [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/WorkshopsGGZ-NL.pdf here].

== DVRET at Parnassia / PsyQ ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Sep 14, 2006</small></div>
At Parnassia / PsyQ about 60 patients have been treated for acrophobia. In four sessions of 90 minutes each the treatment could be finished successfully. Drop-out rate was low. See [http://www.psyq.nl/ here].

== DVD on our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 3, 2006</small></div>
[[Image:DVD_box.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
Students from our bachelor program Media&Knowledge Engineering have produced an interesting DVD about our vrphobia project (in English). On the DVD you find an overview of the VRET system we made, some scientific results, many publications and some interviews of team members (in Dutch&English). Interested? Ask Charles van der Mast. You will get a copy.

Look [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/DVD_shots.pdf here] for screenshots (8MB pdf) of the DVD.

== VRET and Serious Games! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 23, 2005</small></div>
On November 21, Charles van der Mast presented our project and system at a seminar of Media Plaza (Utrecht). This seminar was organized to bring together professional computer game producers under the label "Serious Games". VRET was presented as a great example of a serious game in which emotions are controlled more carefully and accurately than in commercial games. Interesting collaborations may emerge!

== New World for agoraphobia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>October 6, 2005</small></div>
Frans Hooplot implemented the Markt in Delft as a new world for treatment of agoraphobia. A lot of parameters can be changed by the therapist. Three photo's are here.

<gallery>
Image:MarktDelft_SMALL.jpg
Image:Markt1_SMALL.jpg
Image:Markt2_SMALL.jpg
</gallery>

== Visit to Valencia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>August 6, 2005</small></div>
On July 21, Charles van der Mast visited the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia where he met our collegues Mariano Alcaniz, Carmen Juan, Jose Lozano and Sole Quero. And our Delft master student Dennis Joele.
Here are two photo's with Mariano (left) and Charles (right).

<gallery>
Image:Mariano2_Edited.jpg
Image:Charles2Edited.jpg
</gallery>

== VRET transfered to PsyQ in the Hague ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 6, 2005</small></div>
Today, July 6, we transfered a dedicated VRET system to the headquarters of PsyQ (part of Parnassia) in the Hague. From this week on, PsyQ will treat patients with fear of heights and claustrophobia within virtual worlds. The transfer was without problems and we are expecting great results. PsyQ will remain an important partner in the future, too. For more information about PsyQ and the phobia treatments, take a look at PsyQ's [http://psyq.nl/programma/angststoornissen website] (in Dutch).
This is the first time the VRET system is actually used in a clinic, rather than the research lab which was the case until now. If you are interested in a complete system in your clinic, please contact [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/vrteam.html Charles van der Mast].

<gallery>
Image:Vret_psyq_1.jpg
Image:Vret_psyq_2.jpg
</gallery>

== Technological challenges for VRET ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 23, 2005</small></div>
The participation to the NATO Advanced Research Workshop generated a lot of value and interest for our project. We chaired a workgroup 2 and the slides we discussed with the participants plenarily are included [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/NATO_ARW_PTSD_GROUP2.pdf here]. The draft of our paper is [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/VANDERMAST_NATO050.pdf here].
[Mast, C. van der, Popovic, S., Lam, D., Castelnuovo, G., Kral, P. & Mihajlovic, Z. (2005). Technological challenges in the use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, Amsterdam IOS Press. (in press)] A book will be published later.

== Phobia treatment over the Internet! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 1, 2005</small></div>
Today, June 1, we proved that our VRET-system can work over the internet. Our VRET-system is composed of two separate computers. The therapist computer can control the patient computer containing the virtual worlds completely. In this way the therapist can treat patients in other clinics or home. An intercom connection is needed for normal human communication between therapist and patient. The principle works. Now we have to prepare usability studies.

== Collaboration with Universidad Politecnica de Valencia ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 26, 2005</small></div>
Dennis Joele is a student from the master programme Media & Knowledge Engineering of Delft. He is doing his master thesis project at the Medical Image Computing Laboratory of the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. His local supervisor is Dr. Maria Carmen Juan-Lizandra. From Delft he is supervised by Charles van der Mast. Dennis just finished his research assignment "Augmented Reality using ARToolkit with user invisable markers". He will continue his project at Valencia. This is the start of a collaboration on VRET.

== NATO Advanced Research Workshop ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>May 19, 2005</small></div>
Paul Emmelkamp and Charles van der Mast will participate in the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Novel Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. June 13-15, 2005, Dubrovnik, Croatia. They will moderate workshops on Outcomes Measurement and Issues in Follow-up, and Technological Challenges in the Use of VR. We will report on the outcome.

== New Partners ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>March 10, 2005</small></div>
Two official partners are added to the list. Mentrum and CyberMind sent us a Letter of Intent to support a new research project on VRET we are preparing now. [http://www.mentrum.nl/ Mentrum] is an organisation of about 1000 employees treating mental disorders in Amsterdam. They treat about 15,000 clients a year for mental disorders and a part of them for phobias. [http://www.cybermind.nl/ CyberMind] is a leading provider of VR equipment in the EU. They deliver the hardware components of our VRET system to implement the virtual worlds. They develop head mounted devices and they resell products of other developers. They will contribute in developing a special version of a HMD suited for phobia treatment in the future.

== New Partner Parnassia/PsyQ ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 11, 2005</small></div>
Recently [http://www.parnassia.nl/ Parnassia] sent us a Letter of Intent to participate in a new research project we are preparing right now. We will collaborate in developing new worlds and new treatment procedures. Parnassia will be involved in field studies. They will buy a copy of our VRET-system to train the therapists and to start VRET treatment with patients in their own clinics. Parnassia is a large organisation of about 3000 employees who provide instruction, treatment, coaching and nursing of people with psycho-medical problems or disorders. Parnassia is operating in about 30 clinics in the province of Zuid-Holland. About 40 phobia therapists are working for Parnassia.

== Our project at NGC in the Netherlands ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>January 10, 2005</small></div>
On Wednesday January 12, 2005 our project will be presented in the program Hot Sciences from Holland. Time 9 p.m. This video was produced almost two years agoo but the content is still very up-to-date in 2005! Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/VR-1.wmv Phobia VR treatment movie] for the movie in dutch (copyright NGC). This program is being broadcasted all over the world by NGC.

== Parnassia/PsyQ visiting our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>November 2rd</small></div>
On October 28, 2004 about 35 (!!!) phobia therapists from the health institute Parnassia in the Hague visited our project. Charles van der Mast and Paul Emmelkamp gave an overview of the project and the impressive results. Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/Parnassia/Foto.htm here] for some pictures.

== Our project at IST 2004 ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>September 23th</small></div>
Our project will be present at the European IST 2004 Event - Participate in your future. Participants will be there from all European countries. This year's edition of the most important European Information Society Technologies (IST) event is organised under the EU’s Dutch Presidency by the European Commission in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. The event will include a conference, an exhibition of research results and networking facilities for the about 4000 participants. The overall themes are "People" and "Economy". At the exhibition our system for fear of flying treatment is demonstrated. Look at [http://europa.eu.int/information_society/istevent/2004/index_en.htm This link] for the website. [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/ist_2004_100kbps.wmv Click here] to view the movie. And [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/ist2004_fotos/display.htm Click here] to view the pictures.

== SuperAssist ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 15th</small></div>
The group MMI at Delft University got funds from IOP-MMI (in cooperation with other patners) for a research project SuperAssist on Personal assistants for distributed supervision of complex task environments, see [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~charles/SuperAssistAbstract.pdf abstract]. The application domain is medical. Later VRET may be supported by results from SuperAssist.

== Our project at TV Quiz Hoe?Zo! ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>Dec 15th</small></div>
Our project contributed to the interesting sience quiz Hoe?Zo! at Dutch TV on December 11, 2003. Rio and Charles were present. This is a [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/hoezo.gif screen] of the explanation for our question: Does treatment of acrophobia help 20 % or 50 % or almost 100% of the patients? The last possibility is the right one.

== KLM pilots visiting our project ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>July 5</small></div>
On June 24, 2003 some pilots from KLM, therapists and the board of Stichting VALK visited our project at Delft. They are all involved in regular therapies for fear of flying. They experienced our vrphobia system personally in the role of patient as well as therapist. As experts they were impressed by the experiences using the newest version with more realistic features developed by Lucy Gunawan, including an enhanced user interface for the therapist. Click [http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/valk.jpg here] to see some pictures.

== Our Project on National Geographic ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>February 5</small></div>
On January 31, 2003 a team of film makers visited our project in Amsterdam. They filmed the treatment of acrophobia with a real patient, including the intake interview and the interview after the treatment. They also recorded the virtual world for fear of flying treatment. The film will be broadcasted worldwide in the Autumn 2003. Click [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/natgeopics.jpg here] to see the pictures.

== Our therapy and system again on Dutch TV ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>December 30</small></div>
The well known Dutch AVRO TV show "Vinger aan de pols" covered phobia treatment in November 2002. The presenter Pia Dijkstra discussed phobia treatment extensively with Prof. Paul Emmelkamp. Merel Krijn is shown treating (in the background of the discussion) an acrophobia patient using our system. You can see the entire show or scenes of the show (in Dutch) below in [http://real.com/ RealMedia]. The codec used is RealVideo 9.

{|
|-
|'''Scene''' || '''Duration''' || '''56K dial-up modem'''|| '''128K Dual ISDN''' || '''256K DSL or Cable'''
|-
|Annemieke on her fear of heights || 31 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene1_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 1 || 3 min. 29 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene2_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 2 || 16 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene3_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 3 || 57 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene4_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|VR-world for fear of heights, part 1 || 1 min. 57 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene5_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on VR-treatments || 3 min. 3 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene6_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|VR-world for fear of heights, part 2 || 2 min. 25 || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene7_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Prof. Emmelkamp on phobias, part 4 || 27 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Scene8_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|-
|Entire show || 34 min. 54 sec. || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/056k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_056k.ram 56 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/128k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_128k.ram 128 kbit/s] || [http://graphics.tudelft.nl/~vrphobia/RV9/256k/VadP_Entirely_RV9_256k.ram 256 kbit/s]
|}

== Cooperation with the VALK Foundation ==
<div style="text-align: right;"><small>June 29th</small></div>
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new partner: [http://www.valk.org/ the VALK Foundation]. This organisation is specialised in treatment of fear of flying and is connected to [http://www.leidenuniv.nl/ the University of Leiden]. More news on our cooperation will follow.

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:52:49Z

Fatma Inan: /* Demo */

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

== Project ==
Project: [[Social Phobia|Social Phobia]]
:Title: Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality

=== Abstract ===
Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer simulated environment and could offer a powerful tool in the future treatment of phobias. An application of VR is Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in which a phobia patient is exposed to a virtual environment containing the feared stimulus instead of being taken into a real environment or having to imagine the stimulus. This research aims to examine if the simulated social situation in the prototype virtual environment, especially developed for this purpose, is able to provoke the same behavioral response as the real life situation. If this is the case, it would be a step towards implementation of VRET in social phobia treatment. Two cases were examined in the prototype virtual environment to assess whether it was able to recreated social behavior of people. First, we examined if participant who enter a crowded room in the virtual environment prefer to take a seat in a chair that is close to them. Secondly, we investigated if participants in the virtual environment have the tendency to physically distance themselves from strangers when choosing a seat in a room full of strangers. We covered the prototype design of a social situation in a virtual world, the implementation of the prototype, the applied software and techniques and the results of a pilot experiment with the virtual world. We concluded, based on the two cases we examined during our experiments, that a social situation can be recreated in a virtual world.

=== Conclusion ===
We designed and implemented a prototype virtual environment for the treatment of social phobia. The applied software and techniques were presented and used for the implementation of the prototype. We implemented three main elements of social phobia into our virtual environment to induce social phobia symptoms such as anticipated anxiety. We performed the experiment, evaluated the result and have reached our research goals for this thesis.
With the experiment we observed that people entering a room with strangers prefer to sit down on a chair close to them. We also observed that the participants preferred the chair with no avatars around them rather than the chairs with avatars surrounding it. The reaction of the participants to the implemented virtual situation was in accordance with the assumed behavioral response. Since social phobia patients show an extreme form of the responses that people without social phobia experience we can conclude that the real life social situation has been successfully recreated in the VR environment.
We can unfortunately not confirm that the prototype can be used for VRET for social phobia, because we had a very limited number of social phobia participants to draw that conclusion. However, we have recreated a social situation in VR and made a first step towards a virtual environment that can serve as a prototype for virtual worlds that will be built in the future to treat social phobia with VRET.

=== Recommendations ===
The prototype used in the experiment covers several requirements for social phobia. There are already two parameters implemented in the prototype that could be manipulated by therapist during exposure therapy, but still a lot of improvements can be made.
The design of the room can be more symmetric and the navigation could be changed, e.g. by making the participants walk through the room and between the chairs to provoke anxiety. For graded exposure, anxiety arousing sounds could be added into the virtual environment such as a whole group that starts laughing when the patient enters the room.
The number of avatars can vary, manipulated and be placed on different chairs. More interaction between the avatars and the patient can be built in the virtual environment such as a conversation and eye contact.
The objective measurements like heart rate and perspiration could be used to test if a situation has indeed provoked anxiety.
All of these aspects can be incorporated in the future in our prototype to achieve a more improved VRET for social phobia.

=== Demo ===
<anyweb>http://www.youtube.com/v/JK-vVMMN43Y&hl=nl&fs=1</anyweb>

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:49:13Z

Fatma Inan: /* Conclusion */

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:48:04Z

Fatma Inan: /* Abstract */

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:47:17Z

Fatma Inan: /* Project */

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:47:08Z

Fatma Inan: /* Project */

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

== Project ==
Project: [[Social Phobia|Social Phobia]]
Title: Virtual Reality and Social Phobia: Recreating a social situation in Virtual Reality

=== Abstract ===

=== Conclusion ===

=== Demo ===

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:44:37Z

Fatma Inan:

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

== Project ==
Project: [[Social Phobia|Social Phobia]]

=== Abstract ===

=== Conclusion ===

=== Demo ===

User:Fatma Inan

2009-01-08T13:41:33Z

Fatma Inan:

[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|thumb]]
Fatma Inan

Human-Computer Interaction

Project Team

2009-01-08T13:40:35Z

Fatma Inan: /* Master Students */

== Project Leaders ==
{|
|-
|[[Image:CvdMast05.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Dr. Ir. Charles A.P.G. van der Mast (contact person)
:Human-Computer Interaction
:[mailto:c.a.p.g.vandermast@tudelft.nl c.a.p.g.vandermast@tudelft.nl]
:[http://mmi.tudelft.nl/~charles homepage]
|-
|[[Image:Paul.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Prof. Dr. Paul M.G. Emmelkamp
:Clinical Psychology
:P.M.G.Emmelkamp (at) uva.nl
:[http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/p.m.g.emmelkamp/ homepage]
|-
|[[Image:Erik.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Prof. Dr. Ir. Erik W. Jansen
:Computer Graphics
|-
|[[Image:Willem-PaulBrinkman.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Dr. Ir. Willem-Paul Brinkman (contact person)
:Human-Computer Interaction
:W.P.Brinkman (at) tudelft.nl
|-
|[[Image:Mark-Neerincx.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Prof. Dr. Mark Neerincx
:Human-Computer Interaction
:M.A.Neerincx (at) tudelft.nl
|}

== Partners ==
{|
|-
|[[Image:Lucas.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Dr. Lucas van Gerwen (PhD thesis: June 2004)
:Psychology
:[mailto:info@valk.org info@valk.org]
:[http://www.valk.org/ VALK foundation homepage]
|-
|[[Image:Spinhoven.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Prof. Dr. Philip Spinhoven
:Psychology
:spinhoven(at)fsw.leidenuniv.nl
|}

== PhD Students ==
{|
|-
|[[Image:Martijn.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Dr. Martijn J. Schuemie (PhD thesis: March 2003)
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Merel.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Dr. Merel Krijn (PhD thesis: Jan 2006)
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Katharina_web.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Katharina Meyerbröker
:Clinical Psychology
:K.Meyerbroker(at)uva.nl
:Look at: [http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/virtualreality/ http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/virtualreality/]
|-
|[[Image:BertBusscher.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Bert Busscher
:Clinical Psychology
:b.h.busscher(at)umail.leidenuniv.nl
:VALK Foundation
|}

== Master Students ==
{|
|-
|[[Image:Sietske.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Drs. Sietske de Vries
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Alex.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Alexander M.Hulsbosch
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Peter.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Peter van der Straaten
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Roeline.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Roeline Biemond
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Claudius.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Claudius de Wilde de Ligny
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Lucy.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Lucy Trianawaty Gunawan
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Fitri.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Fitri Nurdini Rahayu
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Bas_van_Abel.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Bas van Abel
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:jenn.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Jenneke Wiersma
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Rio.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Rio A Sopacua
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Pietoo8.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Piet van der Ploeg
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Frans.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Frans S. Hooplot
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Iulia.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Iulia Dobai
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Siemen.gif|frameless|80px]]
|
:Siemen Roorda
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:BurakAslan.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Burak Aslan
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:PhongBui.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Phong Bui
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:PhotoArtan.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Artan Sulji
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Anouk_web.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Anouk Taytelbaum
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Anthony.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Anthony Adler Claude
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Donovan2.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Donovan Tjien-Fooh
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Kenan2.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Kenan Saracevic
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Ifa.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Ifa Chaeron
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Nophoto.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Ervin Sabadi
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Fatma_Inan.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:[[User:Fatma Inan|Fatma Inan]]
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:Abigail.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Abigail Struik
:Clinical Psychology
|-
|[[Image:Guntur_HMD_3.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Guntur Sandino
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:DanieldeVliegher.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Daniel de Vliegher
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:IngmarGoudt.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Ingmar Goudt
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:ChristianPaping.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Christian Paping
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:NielsterHeijden.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:[[User:Niels|Niels ter Heijden]]
:Human-Computer Interaction
|-
|[[Image:MatthewVanDenSteen.jpg|frameless|80px]]
|
:Matthew van den Steen
:Human-Computer Interaction

|}

== Bachelor Students ==