for those human-computer researchers who wonder what good it all is, some old but good news: virtual reality can significantly reduce the need for anesthesia during burn treatment – patients who played the immersive game SnowWorld while their wounds were dressed felt half as much pain (and needed half the morphine). similar techniques can also reduce phobias and pain during chemotherapy, all of which leads to greater compliance with life-saving treatments.
university of washington virtual reality therapy website>
scientific american article (pdf)>