A free online platform, developed by Dr Chris Macdonald, founder of the Immersive Technology Lab at Cambridge University, uses virtual reality (VR) to help individuals overcome their fear of public speaking. The platform aims to eliminate the prohibitive costs and long waits often associated with seeking professional help for speech anxiety. The platform uses exposure therapy, breathing exercises, and eye movements to reduce fear and slow heart rate. Users can practice speeches in a variety of VR environments, ranging from empty classrooms to stadiums filled with thousands of spectators, and can add distractions like loud noises or flashing cameras for an “overexposure therapy” approach.
The VR Public Speaking platform works on Android and iOS and can be accessed through a laptop, VR headset, or smartphone with a mount. The platform also includes learning materials, feedback mechanisms, and scenarios such as job interviews to enhance the user experience. A study involving 29 teenagers from China demonstrated the platform’s potential, with the number of students identifying as anxious public speakers decreasing from 65% to 20%, and those who described themselves as confident increasing from 31% to 79%. A yet to be published study revealed all participants found a week of self-guided use beneficial, for instance, feeling more confident or