Afraid of Heights? Virtual Reality Training May Help

Japans Industrial Virtual Reality Expo kicks off this week in Tokyo and one company is promoting a virtual training program that just might help people get over their fear of heightsthats if they can get over the reality of the training.
Imagine a fire breaks out in a high-rise building and you're trapped on the 24th floor. And chances are you, like many others around you, are afraid of heights. A combination of a fire and vertigo could easily put you in panic mode. It's a scary scenario but a very possible one.

That's why Japanese company Crescent Incorporated is suggesting people try out its simulated fire drill program in the world of virtual reality.

The virtual drill system is on display at the Industrial Virtual Reality Expo that kicks off this week in Tokyo.

The reality of the drill was a common theme among the Expo visitors who donned the helmets to experience the training.

[Shoji Hirose, Expo Visitor]: (Japanese)
It was more scary than in the real world, I felt dizzy.

In fact, the virtual training is so real that one Expo visitor was too scared to move when instructed to jump onto a scaffold from a 24th floor-window during the virtual fire drill.

[Chie Goto, Expo Visitor]: (Japanese)
It felt real. I was shocked by its real feeling.

The virtual system can not only help users overcome acrophobia and keep composure in a real emergency situation, but can be used in different ways.

[Hajime Kotani, CEO, Crescent Inc]:
This system can be used for a lot of different purposes. For example, it can train people to better prepare for a big earthquake. It could also help shop owners simulate what it would be like to walk in their shops before they even build them.

The system is sold in Japan for the equivalent of 300,000 US dollars.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NTD
• Japan
• Virtual Reality Expo
• Tokyo
• Fear of heights

[mirzaumairj]

awesome technology.....

[TheTheAwesomedude100]

i would jump

[bushdakota]

the future its what we have imagined for so long

now the power to evolve  lets hope humans continue