Abstract
This chapter aims to describe the multidimensional virtual reality tools applied to healthcare: in particular the comparison between virtual reality traditional tolls and the 360° videos. The VR traditional devices could differ in terms of specific graphics (2D/3D), display devices (head mounted display), and tracking/sensing tools. Although they are ecological tools, they have several problems such as cybersickness, high-cost software, and psychometric issues. Instead, the 360° videos can be described as an extension of virtual reality technology: they are immersive videos or spherical videos that give the opportunity to immerse the subject in authentic natural environments, being viewed via an ordinary web browser in that a user can pan around by clicking and dragging. The comparison between those two technologies stems from the question if 360° videos could solve and overcome the problems related to virtual reality and be an effective and more ecological alternative.
TopBackground
In the last 10 years, VR technology has innovated the world of healthcare: it has been rendering the experimental and clinical fields, as well as assessment and rehabilitation settings, more environmentally friendly, appealing, and personalized (Cipresso et al., 2018). Although VR has great possibilities, it also presents some technical and psychometric limitations: first, when used, most VR systems must be connected to a computer and require an external tracking device. As a result, they are difficult to utilize for the cords that restrict the user's movements. Tethering also necessitates synchronization of the various peripherals (HMD, joystick, gloves, etc.) which necessitates a sophisticated technical setup that increases the system's latency. Moreover, it is challenging to create effective VR experiences since it necessitates the creation of 3D models and interfaces, the specification of user-environment interaction models, and the integration of external devices such as sensors and gloves. Furthermore, most of the times the development of VR environments needs information and engineering intervention because software needs to be customized each time, per each experiment, and this requires huge efforts and high cost in terms of development. Finally, psychometric problems regard the lack of literature about the test-rest and usability of VR tools: only few studies have looked at usability, demonstrating that those tools are actually usable, easy to learn, challenging and engaging, and devoid of major adverse effects (Borgnis et al., 2022; Freeman et al., 2017). These example barriers can be removed with the use of 360° videos. Although, how they are made, they do not allow proper interaction, by linking them together it may be possible to create this illusion: for example, with software like Insta VR, it is possible to allow navigation in any environment: by putting a link or a hotspot on a door it is possible to change the environment and give the appearance to change rooms. This feature has innumerable applications. In this way, a clinician could also create ecological testing or improve existing ones. For example, personality is traditionally assessed through self-reports questionnaire: the most famous is the Big Five questionnaire which assesses personality among five dimensions (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience) (Caprara et al., 1993). Cipresso and Riva (2015) have already proposed to assess personality using 360° videos, creating different situations where each component is posed either in multiple situations with a single choice or in only one situation with multiple choices. One example consists in immersing the user in a path in the forest with a crossroads, where he/she, through a narrative in the virtual environment, must choose a visible street (closeness to experiences) from the one side or a dark street (openness to experiences) on the other side. This method could also be implemented to build different assessment settings, like for example testing emotional regulation, and achieve not only many clinical purposes but also marketing choices.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cyber Sickness: The most prevalent cause of nausea and discomfort associated with virtual reality locomotion, which happens when the virtual scene does not immediately transfer to real-life motion.
Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality: Rooms with equipment and surround rear-projection screens that recreate the computer's stereoscopic visuals and project them on the walls.
Non-Immersive Virtual Reality: It is determined by a monitor that serves as a “window” through which the user may observe the environment in three dimensions, through the mouse, the joystick or other peripherals such as gloves.
Healthcare: The prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental disabilities in individuals is referred to as health care or healthcare.
3D Headset Mounted: Through the virtual reality headsets (Valve, Oculus Quest, Reverb G2, Samsung Odissey, Vive Cosmos, Oculus rift) subjects can have the option to enter any virtual world, domain, or experience you can imagine.
Spherical Videos: Spherical videos, or 360° videos, may generate powerful emotional responses by giving users the sensation of being physically there, as well as the illusion of engaging and reacting as if they were in the actual world.
Immersive Virtual Reality: It refers to the use of sound, imagery, movement, and tactile instruments to isolate the subject's perceptual channels by immersing him/her in a sensory experience.
Usability: Usability indicates if the tools are usable, easy to learn, challenging and engaging, and devoid of major adverse effects.