Author: Alex Asensi

Categories
Environment

Thoughts about work

Thoughts about work

In the last scene, initially, the patient is on the subway platform, and when it arrives he or she gets in it. However, at the next stop, the subway will not move because it does not work, it can be seen as the doors remain open longer than usual. Meanwhile, the patient will be able to listen to a conversation between two passengers talking about the fault and expressing concern about the possibility of being late for work. Finally, after a few minutes, the subway will start moving.

These scenes have no configuration variables. In addition, each scene, as in the other environments, has the possibility of practicing relaxation exercises in the section Relax.

Categories
Environment

Family health

Family health

They are giving the weather broadcast on the television. The weatherman is talking about the heavy rains that are taking place, and talks about the dangers; he also explains recommendations and safety precautions to keep in mind due to the storm (as for example, to not take the car if it can be avoided). At the end, he speaks of a car crash that has taken place and about its victims.
The situation allows to work with the patient for example, on the excessive fear that something bad will happen to a loved one

These scenes have no configuration variables. In addition, each scene, as in the other environments, has the possibility of practicing relaxation exercises in the section Relax.

VARIABLES SETTINGS

The configuration variables will allow modifying the environment to suit each patient and each phase, be it the evaluation or the treatment phase. For this, you will have the same configuration variables available, explained below:

  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Categories
Environment

Babies’ health

Babies’ health

The is a televised debate about babies care. Topics like what to eat and how, aspects of sleep and illness (with data of hospitalized children for example) are discussed.
While the patient is watching the debate program, child’s sobs are heard through the intercom which is on the coffee table (from issuing normal sounds until it begins to mourn with increasing intensity).
It is specially indicated for patients whose main worrying is that something bad may occur to their children.

These scenes have no configuration variables. In addition, each scene, as in the other environments, has the possibility of practicing relaxation exercises in the section Relax.

VARIABLES SETTINGS

The configuration variables will allow modifying the environment to suit each patient and each phase, be it the evaluation or the treatment phase. For this, you will have the same configuration variables available, explained below:

  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Categories
Environment

Thinking about getting sick

Thinking about getting sick

In this case, it is also watching an informative discussion, but this time is about disease risk. At the beginning they will talk about heart attacks (high blood pressure, habits, stress, genetic factors, age, symptoms…). And later they will discuss cancer. Note that, from the beginning, the patient will have medical results, on the coffee table, plus a bottle of pills.
This scene is specially indicated to work on the overestimation of probability of a negative event may occur. And also to treat excessive worrying for health matters.

These scenes have no configuration variables. In addition, each scene, as in the other environments, has the possibility of practicing relaxation exercises in the section Relax.

SETTINGS VARIABLES

The configuration variables will allow modifying the environment to suit each patient and each phase, be it the evaluation or the treatment phase. For this, you will have the same configuration variables available, explained below:

  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Categories
Environment

Children’s health

Children’s health

This scene is designed to work on the anxiety that gives some people the fact of leaving their children’s care to others. It is playing a debate program about supervision and children’s care. They talk about issues such as leaving them with a babysitter or relatives, several accidents, school trips, etc. Note that in the patient’s visual field there are elements such as a ball, which makes assume he or she has a son or a daughter. Whilst the patient is listening to the debate, a message from the school on the voicemail is received requesting an urgent callback.

These scenes have no configuration variables. In addition, each scene, as in the other environments, has the possibility of practicing relaxation exercises in the section Relax.

VARIABLES SETTINGS

The configuration variables will allow modifying the environment to suit each patient and each phase, be it the evaluation or the treatment phase. For this, you will have the same configuration variables available, explained below:

  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
Categories
Uncategorized

The office

The office

In this scenario, the patient finds themselves sitting inside an office. In front, they find different virtual characters sitting around a table. It is a virtual environment in which, depending on the needs of each patient, different types of situations can be represented: a job interview, a presentation in front of work colleagues, an oral exam, etc. 

SETTINGS VARIABLES

  • Amount of people
    • None
    • Minimum (1 person)
    • Medium (3 people)
    • Maximum (6 people)
  • Difficulty.
    • Low (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
    • High (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)

EVENTS

  • Distraction. Choice of a series of distractions:, a Skype call coming through on the patient’s laptop, a mobile telephone ringing when it receives a message (short sound), one of the audience receiving a phone call (in this case one of the colleagues tells the patient not to pay attention to the telephone, as they know they are in a meeting), or someone interrupting the meeting. 
  • Positive remark
  • Neutral remark
  • Negative remark
  • Therapeutic remark
    This event is useful for the healthcare professional to make a remark to the patient while they find themselves within the immersive environment, so as to avoid breaking the dynamics of the session.
Categories
Environment

Streaming conference

Streaming conference

This last virtual environment is practically the same as the previous one, but it can be used for more specific situations. This time the patient finds themselves again in an auditorium, sitting on the seats until the go to stage event is selected. However, the difference is that the lights are down, and there is a camera on the stage focussed directly at the lobby, that is to say where the patient will be placed. 

Therefore, this environment can be useful for patients who have to give a broadcast conference, or perhaps a talk that will be recorded or broadcast on television… 

SETTINGS VARIABLES

  • Amount of People
    • None 
    • Low (room practically empty)
    • Medium (room almost full of people)
    • Full (room completely full) 
  • Difficulty
    • Easy (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
    • Hard (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)

EVENTS

  • Go to the stage
    The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
  • Positive question
    One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
  • Negative question
    In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
  • Therapist positive feedback
    When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
  • Therapist negative feedback
    This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
  • Applause
    The audience applauds the speaker.
  • Spectator leaves room
    One person gets up and leaves the room.
  • Distraction
    Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.

APPENDIX

List of positive questions

  1. It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
  2. I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
  3. What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
  4. You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
  5. Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
  6. Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
  7. Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
  8. Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
  9. Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
  10. These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
  11. Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
  12. What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?

List of negative questions

  1. Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
  2. What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
  3. I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
  4. What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
  5. It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
  6. Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
  7. Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
  8. Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
  9. “You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
  10. Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
  11. Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
  12. Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?
Categories
Environment

Auditorium

Auditorium

The same as in the audience, when launching this environment, the patient finds themselves seated, and until the “go to stage” event is activated the patient will remain in this position. Even so, differently to the audience, this time the patient is sitting on seats looking at the stage, where they can see a lobby. Once on the stage they are placed in front of this lobby, and as in the previous environment, the patient can make a short personal presentation and, afterwards, make a report on a previously prepared topic.

SETTINGS VARIABLES

  • Amount of People
    • None 
    • Low (room practically empty)
    • Medium (room almost full of people)
    • Full (room completely full) 
  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
  • Difficulty
    • Easy (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
    • Hard (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)

EVENTS

  • Go to the stage
    The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
  • Positive question
    One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
  • Negative question
    In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
  • Therapist positive feedback
    When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
  • Therapist negative feedback
    This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
  • Applause
    The audience applauds the speaker.
  • Spectator leaves room
    One person gets up and leaves the room.
  • Distraction
    Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.

APPENDIX

List of positive questions

  1. It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
  2. I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
  3. What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
  4. You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
  5. Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
  6. Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
  7. Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
  8. Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
  9. Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
  10. These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
  11. Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
  12. What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?

List of negative questions

  1. Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
  2. What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
  3. I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
  4. What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
  5. It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
  6. Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
  7. Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
  8. Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
  9. “You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
  10. Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
  11. Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
  12. Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?
Categories
Environment

Audience

Audience

In the first moment, the patient is sitting in one of the audience seats. If no event is selected, the patient will remain in this position, and will only be placed on the stage if the healthcare professional selects the event “go on stage”. Once on stage, the user is sitting behind a table, from there they can make a short personal presentation and, afterwards, make a report on a previously prepared topic.

SETTINGS VARIABLES
  • Amount of People
    • None 
    • Minimum (room practically empty)
    • Medium (room almost full of people)
    • Maximum (room completely full) 
  • Gender
    Choose between a male or female body. A neutral body is selected by default.
  • Skin tone
    Choose the skin tone that best represents your patient to enhance the feeling of immersion.
  • Difficulty
    • Low (audience that listens attentively and with approval)
    • High (audience that is more distracted or disinterested)
  • Sanitary mask
    You can choose whether or not the people around you will have a mask.
EVENTS
  • Go to the stage
    The patient goes onto the stage and is placed behind a table to start the presentation.
  • Positive question
    One listener from the public asks a question that is easy for the patient to answer. The healthcare professional can choose between a series of questions of this type, for example, if they can explain part of the presentation again.
  • Negative question
    In this case, one person from the audience asks a question that is more complicated to answer, something that could make the patient become nervous. The healthcare professional can choose from a series of questions of this type, for example, if they think that their proposal will work, or if they can highlight the weak points of their presentation.
  • Public comments
    Some members of the audience start talking amongst themselves.
  • Therapist positive feedback
    When the healthcare professional selects this event, one of the audience starts to speak although nothing is heard. Therefore, this button allows the healthcare professional to make a positive remark to the patient about their involvement but by introducing themselves into the virtual environment, so that the patient finds they are even more immersed in that environment.
  • Therapist negative feedback
    This event develops in exactly the same way as the previous setting, but it is reserved for the healthcare professional to make a more critical or negative remark about the patient’s involvement.
  • Applause
    The audience applauds the speaker.
  • Spectator leaves room
    One person gets up and leaves the room.
  • Distraction.
    Choice of a series of distractions: yawning, mobile phone, telephone vibration, laughter, coughing.

APPENDIX

List of positive questions

  1. It’s evident that you are passionate about what you’ve explained. Where did the interest come from?
  2. I’ve attended similar conferences before on the same topic but I’ve never been as enthusiastic about it as today. Do you recommend any author or some reading related to what you told us today?
  3. What’s been the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome when preparing the subject?
  4. You’ve approached the matter in a very innovative way. You’ve also explained it very clearly and concisely, is this your first time giving this conference?
  5. Thank you very much for your presentation, it was fascinating. I would like to ask you though, what would you highlight from everything that you just explained?
  6. Are you satisfied with the results of your presentation? Could you talk a bit more on the argument that you’ve exposed?
  7. Do you think you could come back another day to repeat the presentation in front of a larger audience?
  8. Could you give an example by placing it in a different context?
  9. Excuse me, I didn’t understand your last point, could you explain it again?
  10. These results are promising, what impact do you think it may have in the future?
  11. Will you make another presentation during these upcoming weeks? I’d like to attend.
  12. What do you think is the scope or limit of what you have just described?

List of negative questions

  1. Could you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal?
  2. What resources are available for you to implement your plan?
  3. I don’t quite understand the last thing you explain. Could you give another example?
  4. What difficulties do you think may arise in the future?
  5. It started off so well, but the delivery of the findings isn’t as clear. Could you please summarize them again, briefly?
  6. Do you think the results that you’ve shown are realistic?
  7. Do you think that your proposal will work? The current situation doesn’t seem to be the most suitable.
  8. Can you prove what you just said? In my opinion, your argument shows some weaknesses.
  9. “You have made some very interesting proposals, although some of them are a little bit too daring. Have you thought about how you’ll proceed?”
  10. Are you sure that this information comes from reliable sources?
  11. Don’t you think that your point of view has certain limitations? How did you choose your presentation’s approach?
  12. Some of your conclusions seem outdated. Are you aware of the latest trends on this matter?

List of public comments

  1. He looks very tense. Yes, it’s true, he could speak louder, it’s not that difficult.
  2. He looks very tense. I bet it’s his first time.
  3. This talk is so boring. I hope it’ll end soon, this is taking forever.
  4. Have you noticed how much he’s shaking? Yes, I’ve noticed. Also he is sweating a lot.
  5. Seems like he lacks self-confidence, he won’t stop turning his head from side to side. You are right.
  6. Can anyone bring some coffee? We are going to end up falling asleep. This is torturing.
  7. Why is his voice trembling? Isn’t he sure about what he’s saying? Does he know what he’s talking about?
Categories
Uncategorized

Real blood draw

Real blood draw

This environment consists of a blood extraction located in a real scenario. Initially the patient will be in a waiting room and after a few seconds the nurse will call him to enter the room where the extraction will take place.

This environment can be very useful for the exploration of the patient’s current state and its anxiogenic configuration in the face of the feared situation. For example, by putting the patient in a situation, negative thoughts or physiological reactions can be analysed (if biofeedback equipment is available).