In this project, we developed a VR experience that will help children aged 6-14 to complete an MRI scan. Due to loud noises of the MRI machine and no familiarity with the procedure, this is often a scary and stressful situation that children may need anesthesia to complete. We want to teach the children about MRI in an entertaining and reassuring way, and show them that it is completely harmless.
In the experience, you help the mascot Bravur prepare for an examination, and you can try to take an MRI scan yourself. In addition, there are some mini-games and it is possible to collect achievements.
There is often a long waiting time to take MRI examinations, and the radiographers have a tight schedule to get through all the patients. If the children are scared and restless, a new appointment must be arranged to try again with the child under anesthesia. We can help radiographers in their everyday work by avoiding putting children under anesthesia and preparing them to lie still.
After user testing, we have gained insight into the fact that children learn to use VR much faster than adults, and they experience very little "VR sickness" compared to us. They found the MRI experience very fun and educational, and they wanted to stay inside the app to explore more even after they finished the MRI scan.
We are now enrolling 11 free Meta Quest 2 VR headsets to healthcare organizations across the country that have expressed an interest. Our app, which we call Tento, is installed so that they can test the experience in practice and give feedback. We are excited to see the difference we can make with this VR experience. Feel free to visit our offices to try it yourself, or read more on Tento's website.
