VRFocus has written many times in the past about the different use cases of virtual reality (VR) other than pure entertainment, ranging from training applications to treating phobias. Recently Order 66 Labs launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign for its first VR product aim at addiction, Interventionville.
Interventionville isn’t about directly treating a patients addiction, instead the application aims to introduce people with addiction to various forms of treatment inside an immersive VR environment.
As Dr. Matthew Prekupec, founder of Order 66 Labs explains in a statement: “Mutual help groups are an essential part of a program of recovery from alcohol or drugs. By allowing the user to experience three different types of meetings in VR, while they’re in the hospital, they can find the best fit for themselves before engaging with the group in real life. A major problem with these groups is that when we refer patients to them, the majority don’t actually go. Once they do go, most find they enjoy the camaraderie, and research shows that the groups help them abstain from using alcohol or drugs. Interventionville removes the hurdle of seeking out the initial meeting and reduces the user’s apprehensions about these groups.”
The app will offer a number of simulation options for people to choose from, these include a Doctor’s Office, School, Hospital, Church Beach and Veterans Club. In the Hospital for example users can view five different patients who have been adversely affected by substance use. The Beach on the other hand offers a mindfulness-based recovery meeting (similar to Refuge Recovery) on a beautiful tropical beach.
The Interventionville Kickstarter aims to raise $40,000 USD by 4th August 2018. Pledges start from $5 with $30 securing backers a release version of the app which will support either HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Above $30 most of the reward levels include either future access to the application or the purchasing of virtual bricks within the application. Like traditional brick fundraising campaigns, backers who select this option will be able to engrave up to three lines of text on a digital brick which will become a permanent part of the Interventionville application.
With a month to go, VRFocus will continue to follow the progress of Interventionville, reporting back with any further updates.