Startup VRTU to tackle Dementia Using Virtual Reality
by Startacus Admin
Virtual reality can be used for travelling to other worlds to shoot aliens, bringing Vikings back to life, ride roller coasters, or even as the central feature of a theme park!
But it can be used for far more important, real world things too.
We have written previously about how virtual reality can and will take a role in various areas of our lives, including medicine and education, however there is now a VR startup tackling one of the most frightening waking nightmares in today’s society: dementia.
UK-based VRTU uses virtual reality to approach reminiscence therapy in a new way. Reminiscence therapy is a method by which dementia patients are exposed in some way to stimulus that helps to unlock feelings, emotions, or memories. This can be anything from simply music from a period of their life to the amazing work some have put into creating entire villages for dementia patients to live normal lives. VRTU offers an app to do this job, with a range of experiences designed to stimulate cognition.
The app works on an average smartphone, which is then put into any mobile VR headset. The wide range of experiences to choose from means that it can be tailored for each patient, with a customised playlist to go along with it. If a trip on an Oxford steam train in 1955 isn’t up the patient’s alley, perhaps a 1959 San Francisco house will be. There is a companion app for others to share the experience, and this includes information on things in the scene, as well as prompts to encourage conversation and trigger memories.
Real world locations set up to look and function like places from patients’ younger days have proven very beneficial to their cognition, but for patients who cannot benefit from these few locations, a virtual reality environment as offered by VRTU sounds like it could be the next best thing.
We look forward to seeing where this innovative VR startup heads next, and wish the team well with their entrepreneurial endeavours going forward...
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
Want to ensure your startup runs smoothly? Hamid Bagherzadeh, Legal expert and Co-Founder of LegaMart shares insights on the legal contracts that will help you do just that.
Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.
The lowdown on London-based hearing wellness startup Mumbli and its mission to help businesses provide inclusive spaces for all hearing abilities and preferences.
Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.
Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.
.jpg)
With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.
The lowdown on Berlin-based Beazy and its innovative solution that helps teams to plan, produce and deliver creative content and helps businesses to connect with talented content creators.
Published on: 9th July 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Anamcara launches $10.6M seed fund to back new wave of business tech 30th Mar 2023 Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
- Travel insurtech Koala raises €2m to accelerate its growth 29th Mar 2023 Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
- Tech Nation announces the 10 winners of its latest Rising Stars competition 29th Mar 2023 The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
- Micro Business Alliance launches to represent 75% of the UK’s businesses 28th Mar 2023 Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.
