The objective of the 5DT Virtual Reality Pain Distraction System (VRPDS) is to distract the attention of patients that undergo painful procedures from the pain associated with the procedure. VRPDS is aimed at painful procedures (e.g. wound-dressing for burn victims) where anesthesia is not a viable option.

The patient wears a Head Mounted Display (HMD) during the procedure. The HMD fully immerses the patient in the distraction game. The HMD also serves to isolate the patient from the procedure, since the patient cannot see the procedure being performed. The patient controls the distraction game with either a game pad or a joystick.

The distraction games were designed to provide a rich sensory experience. Fast-moving, colorful and interesting imagery provide visual stimulation. A variety of background sounds and music provides aural stimulation. Force-feedback by the game controls provides tactile stimulation. The games are interactive and require serious concentration. The games also offer a challenge to the players. There are various game levels to keep the patients interested continuously.

VRPDS currently features two pain distraction games:
a. The Jolly Jumpin Jellies (JJJs) (age group 3-8)
b. Street Luge (age group 8-88)

The Jolly Jumpin Jellies are aimed at the younger age group (3-8). The game features a fantasy virtual world with Jolly Jumpin Jellies1], a play park, a rainbow, boat rides, birds, butterflies and the main character 'Gotcha'2]. The patient controls 'Gotcha' to catch the jellies. There are 7 jumping jellies that must be caught in the shortest possible time. Each progressive game level provides for faster jellies that are more difficult to catch.

Street Luge is aimed at the age group of 8 to 88 years. It is essentially downhill racing on a big skate board, with the game player lying on his/her back on the skate board. The game features a fast-moving reality-based virtual world. Whereas the premise of the Jollie Jumpin Jellies game was to provide a very stimulating world with cute bubbly characters for pain distraction, the premise of Street Luge is a game that requires a lot of concentration and that challenges the game player to try for a better time again and again. Each progressive game level features a higher gravity value, resulting in increasing downhill speeds for the Luge.

The games were designed to be non-violent. The games were also designed to be as cross-cultural as possible and to appeal to both sexes.

Data sheets must be viewed with a PDF-viewer. If you do not have a PDF-viewer, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's site at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

 VRPDS Data Sheet: VRPDSDataSheet.pdf (307 KB)

Manuals must be viewed with a PDF-viewer. If you do not have a PDF-viewer, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's site at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

  VRPDS Manual: VRPDSManual.pdf (534 KB)

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