A recent study published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality has shown that a virtual reality (VR) training platform can effectively help individuals become less fearful of public speaking. The study found that after a 30-minute session on the platform, participants reported feeling less anxious and more confident about speaking in front of an audience. The platform uses overexposure therapy, placing users in extreme speaking scenarios such as addressing a stadium filled with 10,000 virtual spectators.
The fear of public speaking is widespread, affecting people of all ages and professions and is linked to negative impacts on mental health, education, and career advancement. Traditional treatments like exposure therapy, where individuals are gradually introduced to anxiety-inducing situations to build their confidence, have proven effective but are often expensive, time-consuming and can be intimidating.
The VR platform takes exposure therapy a step further, making it more accessible and effective. Unlike previous systems requiring pricey VR headsets and guided therapy sessions, this platform is free and compatible with a variety of devices, including smartphones, making it easily accessible to anyone with internet access.
The creator of the platform aimed to make a tool that is not only efficient but also widely used by those who need it the most. To ensure the platform’s effectiveness, user feedback was collected