Virtual counselling sessions operated by a robot are more popular with some people than in-person appointments conducted by a human, latest evidence shows.<\/p>\n
Researchers from the Edith Cowan University discovered that 30 per cent of adults feel more comfortable opening up about difficult aspects of their life with a robot than another individual.<\/p>\n
By using body motion software, the team of academics assessed how communication methods varied between virtual and in-person appointments. Each participant also self-reported how comfortable they felt during each session.<\/p>\n
First author Dr Shane Rogers said: Overall people rated VR social interaction as similar to face-to-face interaction, with the exception of closeness, where people tended to feel a little closer with each other when face-to-face.<\/p>\n
According to the scientists, virtual reality will soon be used in more aspects of daily life, including business, tourism, education and therapy.<\/p>\n
Dr Rogers said: The study found that 30 per cent of people preferred disclosing negative experiences via VR.<\/p>\n
This means that therapy might be opened up to new people who dont feel comfortable with traditional face-to-face interactions.<\/p>\n
He added: It might also enable therapists to conduct therapy more effectively at a distance, as a person can be in the therapist room (in virtual reality) while seated in their own home.<\/p>\n
Over the next decade, virtual reality will dominate social situations, the research study has reported.<\/p>\n
More powerful computers are becoming more affordable, VR headsets and peripherals are continuing to develop, and more user-friendly VR interaction software platforms are becoming available and being updated, said Dr Rogers.<\/p>\n
The paper, Realistic motion avatars are the future for social interaction in virtual reality, has been published in the journal Frontiers in Virtual Reality.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the rest here:<\/p>\n
Virtual reality improves therapy, study finds - Diabetes.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Virtual counselling sessions operated by a robot are more popular with some people than in-person appointments conducted by a human, latest evidence shows. Researchers from the Edith Cowan University discovered that 30 per cent of adults feel more comfortable opening up about difficult aspects of their life with a robot than another individual. Continue reading