Design and implementation of a framework based on augmented reality for phobia treatment applications
Seyed Reza Kamel Tabbakh, Roni Habibi, Shiva Vafadar · 2015
Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the todays' technologies that has variety of applications from education purposes to medical and military applications. It enables adding virtual objects to the real life environment that can be viewed from AR-glasses or computer displays. In this paper we propose a framework including hardware and software to apply AR technology in phobia treatment. Phobia is a psychological disorder which is an extreme fear towards an object, creature or situation. In the previous works, head-mounted and in-front displays were used; however, both have major negative effects on treatment. In contrast to the previous works, the main element of the proposed framework is an AR-desk developed to be used as patient's front desk which eliminates the use of head-mounted systems. Step by step details of the design and implementation are described and the proposed framework is evaluated through feedbacks from psychologists, IT professionals and ordinary people. Finally, it is discussed and concluded that the proposed framework has many advantages compared to similar previous works.