Mindgaze: VR Mental Health Prototype

In 2023, I had the privilege of participating in Meta's Presence Platform Hackathon in London, an event that brought together 133 creative minds from around the globe to push the boundaries of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies. I joined forces with an exceptional group of XR creators—Allan Berger, Jeffrey Wang, Matija Mandurov, and Balraj Bains—to form the team "Emotional Architects." Together, we developed Mindgaze, a VR app designed to assist individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mindgaze represents a leap forward in mental healthcare, harnessing the potential of VR to offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy sessions. This innovative application guides users through therapeutic sessions, utilizing eye movement to process and reframe negative memories into positive outcomes. By integrating voice commands, sentiment analysis, gaze and hand tracking, and AI-powered voice-to-image technology for creating 360-degree environments, Mindgaze offers a deeply personalized and natural healing experience for patients.

Our project was selected as one of the top three finalists at the hackathon, a testament to our team's hard work and the potential impact of Mindgaze in the field of mental healthcare.

The development of Mindgaze was driven by a clear mission: to create a prototype that was able to offer an effective, accessible, and innovative treatment option for individuals battling PTSD. With an estimated 13 million people affected by PTSD annually, the need for alternative therapeutic options is undeniable. Mindgaze aims to lower the barriers to accessing mental health care by providing an immersive experience that can complement traditional therapies.

By leveraging the immersive capabilities of VR, Mindgaze taps into the brain's response mechanisms to real-life experiences, offering a promising alternative that could potentially shorten treatment times compared to conventional methods. Our hope is to further develop Mindgaze alongside therapists and patients, conducting thorough testing to refine and validate its effectiveness.

Mindgaze is built on Meta's Presence Platform during 2 work days, utilizing the latest in MR and VR technologies to create a supportive and effective therapeutic environment. Key features of the app include:

EMDR Therapy Sessions: Guided sessions utilizing eye movement to help users process and reframe traumatic memories.

Voice Commands and Sentiment Analysis: For a personalized and responsive therapy experience.

Gaze and Hand Tracking: To facilitate natural interactions within the VR environment.

AI-Powered Voice-to-Image Technology: For generating personalized 360-degree environments and AI powered voice responses that support the therapy process.

The Emotional Architects team, comprising Florencia Solari, Allan Berger, Jeffrey Wang, Matija Mandurov, and Balraj Bains, brought together a diverse set of skills and backgrounds to realize the vision for Mindgaze. Inspired by the profound impact technology can have on improving lives, our work on Mindgaze is a reflection of a collective commitment to leveraging our talents for positive social impact.

Growing up with a neuroscientist mother and a psychologist father, I've always been fascinated by the potential of technology to aid in mental health and learning disabilities. Mindgaze is a culmination of this lifelong passion.

Original Research on VR and Mental Healthcare by Florencia Solari

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Meta team and all the participants of the hackathon for making this incredible experience possible. The support and inspiration from this community have been invaluable, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the future of mental healthcare through innovative technology.