I recently came across a report about a VR project showcased at the Glastonbury Festival. Researchers from the University of Exeter presented a nature-themed VR experience designed to support mental health and reduce pain. Participants could explore immersive environments such as forests, lakes, and mountains using a headset.
According to the research team, while real nature remains the ideal, VR can offer similar psychological benefits, especially for individuals with limited mobility or chronic pain. It highlights a growing interest in using immersive technology for therapeutic purposes.
I’m curious what others think. Can VR-based nature therapy become a practical tool in healthcare or wellness? Have you tried similar VR experiences that left a meaningful impact?
When pimax was ar Immersed 2017(Toronto, Ontario). There was a lot of discussions of vr in the health industry.
pimax asked me if I could attend to help their team member at that event. One fellow I met used VR for terminal patients. Along the same lines as your post.
I had a quest 2 at the time and took it to my grandmother who was no longer able to get out of bed. After very little teaching, she was able to navigate with find content she wanted to look at. She spent a lot of time in the dinosaur and nature places. Swimming with the dolphins, etc. All things she would never have been able to do, even when she was young, she may have never been able to go to so many places. She spent a lot of time in the Wanderer app as well.
Welcome to OpenMR!
That is fantastic. VR has many great applications beyond what most of us use it for.
if you link an older program that looked good in steam Nature’s Trek VR
this one below is new. might be alright