Mechanisms of a Virtual Reality Respiratory Biofeedback Intervention: a Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial Researchers: Elke Vlemincx & Gabriela Cortez Vazquez, Health Science VUApplication development and support: Marco Otte, Network Institute VU Mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, … Continue reading
Category Archives: Game Cella
Emotion Contagion from virtual humans
Emotion contagion in groups via virtual representatives Emotions are known to be infectious when people meet in person. By interacting with each other, a group tends to become more similar in the emotions they express, resulting in the display of … Continue reading
Emotions are contagious
When we see someone smile from ear to ear, most of us can’t help but smile along. Emotions are infectious, and under some circumstances this can be problematic. Think about stampedes, riots, bullying or depression. A computer model of how … Continue reading
XR ON TOUR!
SURF and the Network Institute will co-host XR ON TOUR event. The Network Institute will have VR-demos ready at the venue location and in its Game Cella’ Lab where you can take a look at the XR-facilities the Network Institute … Continue reading
Tech Labs opening at the NU-building
In the beginning of October the Network Institute Tech Labs will finally open its doors at its new location in the NU-building. At our new location we are proud to present two brand new lab spaces and a workspace for … Continue reading
Advanced tracking at the Tech Labs
Recently the Tech Labs have installed a professional high-level tracking system for multiple use. The system is an OptiTrack system using multiple (18) highly accurate cameras that can track multiple persons and objects in our large lab space. Due to … Continue reading
Practicing Mentalization skills in VR
In the treatment of people with intellectual disabilities, remedial educationalists are involved. To organize care what the person feels comfortable with, a relationship of trust is essential. By using mentalization-based skills persons with intellectual disabilities’ information processing can be supported, … Continue reading
Virtual Reality meet Machine Learning
In VR it is normal for users to use handheld controllers to interact with their virtual environment. However, sometimes using these controllers can interfere with other equipment such a physiological sensors or sometimes a user might not be able to … Continue reading
Credibility of DeepFake
Credibility of Deepfakes Deepfakes, i.e. videos merging images and audios from different sources, blending them so as to generate a fully plausible clip, initially generated attention for their entertainment purposes: finally, it was possible for anyone to appear superimposed on … Continue reading
Getting rid of Cyber Sickness
The VU Network Institute has recently been asked by the VU Department of Human Movement Sciences for help with the development of two VR based tests to measure “visual dependency” in relation to motion sickness susceptibility. Motion sickness is gaining … Continue reading
Use advanced Eye Tracking in Virtual Reality
Since about a year the Tech Labs are in possession of the HTC Vive Pro Eye virtual reality headsets. These top-level VR headsets have integrated eye tracking that offers all sorts of new possibilities for research. Already we’ve created several … Continue reading
Flood risk communication in Virtual Reality
Many individuals experience problems understanding and preparing for low-probability impact risk, like natural disasters and pandemics – unless they experience these events, yet then it is often too late to avoid damages. Individuals with recent disaster risk experience are, on … Continue reading
Tech Labs moved to NU
As of September the Tech Labs of the Network Insittute have moved to the NU building on the VU campus. Our brand new location is situated on the 7th floor of this magnificent buidling overlooking the campus square in all … Continue reading
Tech Labs Corona Protocol
In our efforts to open up the Tech Labs sometime September, we have setup a Corona Protocol. This protocol outlines the specific issues and needs in the Tech Labs. With this protocol we hope to be able to resume a … Continue reading
Preventing Criminal Behavior
As we reported earlier the Tech Labs have been working on the Virtual Environment (VE) of a part of Rotterdam. The VE will be used to study the effectiveness of deterring potential criminal behavior in a normal neighborhood. Using the … Continue reading
VR in education
The VMBO college Horizon in Alkmaar are looking for additional methods in their educational program. For their security trainings they want to try to use virtual reality as a training method as this will not only give the students a … Continue reading
Rebuilding a real neighborhood in VR
For our Tech Labs project “Burglary Free Neighborhood” we have finished recreating a part of the actual real neighborhood Lombardijen in Rotterdam. Using the latest High-Definition options available in Unity Pro, we are able to create very realistic virtual environments … Continue reading
Virtual Reality research at the Fieldlab Rotterdam
Virtual Reality research at the Fieldlab Rotterdam The Fieldlab Burglary Free Neighbourhood uses smart sensors to detect suspicious sounds and movements. In the Rotterdam Fieldlab we’re experimenting with sensors and subsequent measures to determine their effectiveness in sensing and preventing … Continue reading
Inter-Ethnic online dating
The last decade has seen both an increase in the diffusion of online dating and an uptick in the number of inter-ethnic marriages. Could users’ participation on online dating contribute to the formation of more heterogeneous couples ? The awarded … Continue reading
Preventing burglary in Virtual Reality
Burglaries are a continuous threat to our safety and society. Increasingly we are trying to understand how the typical burglar thinks and works to try to prevent this type of criminal behavior. What is needed to deter a burglar from … Continue reading
Weston Brain Institute grant project starts in collaboration with the Tech Labs
Professor Charlotte Teunissen and her team at the NeuroChemistry group at the VUmc, received a grant from the Weston Brain Institute to further develop a biomarker helping in the detection of a large number of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s … Continue reading
Tech Labs Mobile App scores Best Demo at BNAIC 2018
Using Virtual Reality to train bus drivers
In collaboration with the Rotterdam public transport organisation (RET), Allerto and the Artificial Intelligence group (Tibor Bosse & Romy Blankendaal) at the VU, the Network Institute developed a virtual reality training application to help bus drivers cope with aggressive passengers. … Continue reading
Anti-scam training app in the news
Over the past two weeks there’s been a lot of media attention about the Babbeltruc App. This tablet app was created by the Network Institute in collaboration with Artificial Intelligence (Tibor Bosse & Laura van der Lubbe) at the VU … Continue reading
Fall 2018 Newsletter Tech Labs is out!
After a very busy period here at the Network Institute Tech Labs, we’ve finally been able to create an other newsletter. The newsletter offers some insight in the projects being done at the Tech Labs and gives you all the … Continue reading
Tech Labs VR featured in Discovery Channel documentary
As most of you have probably seen in the Tech Labs Newsletters, the Tech Labs have been working on a virtual neighborhood for studying burglary. These studies are a collaboration between the NSCR (Jean-Louis van Gelder), the University of Porstmouth … Continue reading
Tech Labs: Experiment on moral reasoning in video games
In April of 2013 two master students of the Communication Department (Faculty Social Sciences and part of the Network Institute) will research if and to what extend moral reasoning plays a role in playing video games, in this case Call … Continue reading
Creatr 3D printer has arrived
In the Game Cella’ Tech Lab the Creatr 3D printer from Leapfrog has arrived. The printer was bought by the Selemca project in which a consortium of partners is researching the application of emotional affective and morally reasonable robots in … Continue reading