Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023
Metaverse for mental health
Shared virtual spaces to improve mental health.
Thrilled to have been part of World Economic Forum's Top 10 Emerging Technologies for almost 10 years! This time writing on #Metaverse for #MentalHealth with Geoffrey Ling. An excerpt of the article is below:
The mental health crisis that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic has since increased to unprecedented levels, making conditions ripe for metaverse-enabled mental health treatment. Ideally, a mental health-centred technology-based infrastructure will support all aspects of mental health: prevention, diagnostics, therapy, education and research.
Gaming platforms are already being leveraged for mental health treatment. Such platforms not only increase patient engagement but also help destigmatize mental health issues. For example, DeepWell Therapeutics has created video games to treat depression and anxiety; UK-based Xbox studio Ninja Theory has incorporated mental health awareness into mass-market games and plans to expand into treatment with their Insight Project; and TRIPP has created Mindful Metaverse, which enhances well-being through VR-enabled guided mindfulness and meditation.
Maturing interface technologies could further augment social and emotional connections between distant participants. For example, Emerge Wave 1 is a tabletop device that uses ultrasonic waves to simulate touch, enhancing users’ social experience. Noninvasive neurotechnologies can even provide feedback attuned to a user’s emotional state. For example, Neurable headsets use electrodes to measure emotion and can adjust music accordingly. Eventually, the metaverse will also connect to therapeutic neurotechnologies, such as direct brain stimulation to treat intractable depression.
Leveraging the metaverse for the continuum of mental healthcare needs could be a win-win. Not only would patients benefit, but grounding the metaverse in a practical, necessary application could drive the emergence of this advancing virtual space.
