What is EASYHEiGHTS and what can it be used for?
EASYHEiGHTS is a virtual reality (VR) app, which provides a virtual environment that helps you adjust to heights. This can help you to deal more calmly with real height situations and to feel less fear.
Who is EASYHEiGHTS designed for?
EASYHEiGHTS is suitable for those who suffer from a mild, clinically insignificant fear of heights and are above the age of 16.
Technical requirements for using EASYHEiGHTS
The EASYHEiGHTS smartphone app works in combination with wireless VR goggles, making it easy and effective for use at home.
Development of EASYHEiGHTS
The EASYHEiGHTS VR app is a virtual tool developed by the University of Basel to help people adjust to heights. The training uses a scientifically proven approach to reduce fear, known as exposure therapy.
A drone was used to take 360° images of real locations, which create a virtual simulation of actually being at these locations.
To test the effectiveness of the treatment in real-life situations, the University of Basel conducted a randomized, controlled study. All the subjects either completed four hours of VR height training with EASYHEiGHTS or were assigned to a control group. Before and after treatment, the study participants climbed the Uetliberg observation tower near Zurich as far as their fear allowed. The group that had completed the EASYHEiGHTS training exhibited 49% less fear on the tower and was able to climb higher towards the top. These effects were statistically significant and in size comparable to conventional therapy. The control group exhibited no positive changes. The publication can be found here:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-021-00387-7
How does EASYHEiGHTS training work?
In the virtual reality environment of the EASYHEiGHTS VR app, the user stands on a platform that is initially 1 meter above the ground. After they have become accustomed to the height, the platform rises an additional meter. In this way, the person’s position above the ground slowly but steadily increases without an accompanying increase in their fear level.
EASYHEiGHTS offers three scenarios (mountain landscape, forest edge, urban surroundings), providing the opportunity to become comfortable in height situations. In all three situations, the user stands on a platform that rises only when their fear at the current level allows. Each scenario has 15 levels. Initially, the platform moves up 1 meter to the next level. In the advanced levels, the height increases several meters at a time. At the final level, the platform is 75 meters above the ground.
Before starting the training session, you select a scenario. Each scenario begins at the first level – 1 meter above the ground – and moves up to the next level only when your fear level allows. At each level, look down and permit your feelings of fear. When you reach the next level, you will be asked to rate your current fear level. The platform will rise only when you do not experience any or only minimal fear at that level. You cannot return to a lower level.
You can stop the training at any time by taking off the VR goggles. The training is also stopped automatically after 30 minutes.
EASYHEiGHTS is controlled by the direction of your gaze.
The basic instructions are displayed before each training session.
Who is responsible for the EASYHEiGHTS VR app, and who can I contact if necessary?
University of Basel
Transfaculty Research Platform
Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences (MCN)
Birmannsgasse 8
4055 Basel
Switzerland
https://mcn.unibas.ch