• Immersive Virtual Environment
• Natural Communication
• Social Communication Skills Training
• Social-phobic Spectrum Disorders
• Virtual Humans

The Mental+ForU project was developed from the need to find innovative solutions for the treatment of social anxiety disorder in young adults, with particular attention to those on the autism spectrum. This disorder, characterized by an intense fear of social interactions and judgment from others, can severely impact the quality of life, leading to social isolation and other problems. With the goal of improving patients' socio-emotional skills and reducing anxiety symptoms, the project uses immersive technologies like virtual reality, an innovative approach that leverages the simulation of social environments to create safe and controlled therapeutic experiences.

The core of the Mental+ForU development relies on the use of Unity, a versatile development platform that allows the creation of virtual reality applications and video games. Unity was chosen for its ability to build interactive three-dimensional environments and for its native integration with virtual reality headsets, particularly the Oculus Quest 2, the device on which the application was developed. Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone headset, meaning it does not require a computer to operate, making it simpler and more accessible for patients to use in therapeutic contexts.

The development of the application required the integration of various libraries and tools that enable smooth interaction between the user and the virtual environment. One of the crucial aspects was the tracking of head and hand movements using the Oculus Quest 2 controllers, allowing the patient to interact directly with objects and situations in the virtual world. This tracking was implemented using Oculus APIs, which are integrated into Unity to facilitate the development of VR applications. Unity provides a wide range of tools for managing interactions, animations, and three-dimensional rendering, key elements in creating an immersive and realistic experience.

The heart of the application is based on three fundamental techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy: cognitive restructuring, modeling, and gradual exposure. Cognitive restructuring is implemented through a mechanism that allows patients to observe a virtual character as they modify their dysfunctional thoughts under the guidance of a virtual therapist. Modeling, on the other hand, allows patients to learn social strategies by observing virtual models that face challenging social situations. Gradual exposure, finally, enables patients to progressively face increasingly complex social situations in a controlled and safe environment.

From a technical standpoint, the development of Mental+ForU required careful attention to creating realistic social scenarios, both visually and interactively. The 3D models used in the application were designed to reflect common social situations, such as group interactions or one-on-one conversations. These scenarios were created using 3D modeling software compatible with Unity, allowing for easy import of objects and animations into the game engine.

In addition to creating virtual environments, another important aspect of development was designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). The goal was to create a simple and intuitive system that would allow patients to navigate between different scenarios without difficulty. Unity provided the necessary tools to create a fluid user interface, integrated directly into the 3D environment.

Another innovative element of Mental+ForU is the use of immersive storytelling. Patients are immersed in an interactive story where they follow a character that faces various social interactions. This approach makes the experience more engaging, facilitating the learning of therapeutic strategies through observation and interaction. The virtual environment thus becomes a safe space where the patient can experiment and face their social fears without the immediate fear of judgment, characteristic of real-life interactions.

In summary, Mental+ForU represents a significant innovation in the field of therapy for social anxiety disorder, combining traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques with the potential of virtual reality. The development on Unity, the integration with Oculus Quest 2, and the use of advanced tracking tools have made it possible to create an application that offers patients a new and interactive way to confront social anxiety, improving their socio-emotional skills and overall quality of life.