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There is evidence of the healing effect of contemplating nature in the recovery from illness. For example, a study published in 1984 by architecture professor Roger Ulrich is now considered classic. He found that hospital stays of patients who could see green trees through their windows were significantly shorter than those of patients who looked at a brick wall. Salzburg scientists now want to find out whether artificial, computer-generated nature also has such an effect.<\/p>\n
Daf\u00fcr bringen sie Patienten mit Methoden der VR in k\u00fcnstlich erzeugte Umgebungen und messen deren K\u00f6rperfunktionen. Durch einen Vergleich mit Messwerten von Patienten, die sich in der realen Natur aufhielten, kann dann festgestellt werden, ob die Realit\u00e4t der Kunstwelt „\u00fcberlegen“ ist.<\/p>\n
Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) Salzburg has found a partner for this project in the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. The laboratory will test products and services that utilise VR technologies in the treatment of diseases. The first project of the two co-operation partners was an examination of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a virtual version of the Krimml Waterfalls. To create the virtual model, the researchers travelled to the real waterfalls in the Hohe Tauern National Park.<\/p>\n
There, they used drones to take numerous photos of the landscape at different heights. They also recorded the soundscape on site using a 360-degree microphone. The multimedia experts at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences then used the data to create a two-dimensional panoramic image of the area and a 3D reconstruction. They achieved the depth effect using photogrammetric software.<\/p>\n
In the clinical part of the study, 60 test subjects were then asked to put on VR goggles and spend some time in the virtual world. The parallel medical measurements focussed on heart and lung function. We know that spending time at the real waterfalls induces a state of relaxation. The heartbeat normalises, breathing deepens, oxygen saturation in the blood increases and the breathing rate slows down and synchronises with the heartbeat. In addition, inflammatory respiratory gases in the lungs are reduced.<\/p>\n
Die klinische Studie wurde Ende 2018 abgeschlossen, derzeit erfolgt die Auswertung. Ob die Effekte der virtuellen Natur jenen der realen wirklich ebenb\u00fcrtig sind, wird sich also erst zeigen. „Es geht nicht darum, dass die virtuellen Welten das reale Naturerlebnis ersetzen sollen“, betont Hartl. Zielgruppe der Forschungsergebnisse seien vielmehr Personen, die aus medizinischen Gr\u00fcnden nicht selbst in die Natur hinaus k\u00f6nnen, weil sie bettl\u00e4grig sind. Oder, wie im Fall von COPD-Patienten, weil der geringe Luftsauerstoff bei den Krimmler Wasserf\u00e4llen f\u00fcr sie kontraproduktiv w\u00e4re.<\/p>\n
„Die gr\u00f6sste Herausforderung bei der Erstellung des Modells ist der Wasserfall selbst“, sagt Markus Tatzgern. „Wir arbeiten derzeit an einer Verbesserung des 3D-Modells.“ Ein Ziel der Forscher ist ausserdem die Entwicklung eines „Exergames“ (ein Kunstwort aus „exercise“ und „game“). Dabei soll ein Avatar Patienten in virtueller Realit\u00e4t bei der Durchf\u00fchrung von atemtherapeutischen \u00dcbungen begleiten. Hochpersonalisiert, abgestimmt auf den jeweiligen Typ der Erkrankung, soll automatisiert erkannt werden, wie gut der Patient die \u00dcbungen ausf\u00fchrt. Denkbar w\u00e4re auch ein auf sozialer Vernetzung basierendes Szenario, bei dem sich mehrere Patienten in einem virtuellen Raum treffen und die \u00dcbungen gemeinsam durchf\u00fchren.<\/p>\n
Further research questions concern the methodology itself. The aim is to find out how realistic the artificial world has to be in order to have a medical effect. Does it always have to be a 3D representation, or is a 2D panorama sufficient? And which representations have a similar effect? The sight of trees? Of water? The sounds of nature? Last but not least, the Ecomedicine Virtual Reality Physiology Lab is also intended as a place of teaching where young scientists can be trained and write their theses.<\/p>\n
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