Laboratory for Virtual Reality Combines Psychology and Technology Launched
On August 23, North-West University (NWU) opened a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) simulation facility at the Faculty of Health Sciences, marking a major advancement in the institution’s quest of innovation. This new facility provides immersive experiences that appeal to the senses and the intellect, enhancing both research and instruction. Within a single room, users may experience virtual situations that go beyond physical limitations, such as evading rugby balls, dissecting the human body to reveal its anatomy, doing medical evaluations, and more.
According to Prof. Daryl Balia, the deputy vice-chancellor, Information Technology and Campus Operations, Potchefstroom Campus, the laboratory will be essential to advancing research efforts aimed at making meaningful changes in communities by providing useful data for studies and interventions.
The first of its type in South Africa, the simulation lab was designed with psychology and social work in mind by enthusiastic young researcher Neville Robertson. It is expected to develop into a centre of innovation for these and other university academic areas.
The lab, which is housed at the Potchefstroom Campus’s Community Psychosocial Research unit (abbreviated as Compres), is remarkably equipped with VR headsets, a treadmill that is connected to VR, motion capture cameras, Loco sensors, and specialised software that helps researchers gather data.
The laboratory is important for community-focused researchers because it prepares them for real-world settings and scenarios, according to Prof. Retha Bloem, Research Director at Compres. Being home to such a state-of-the-art facility, which is seen as a significant step towards embracing technology to co-create the Africa of the future, makes the institution proud.
Prof. Jeanetta du Plessis, the Research and Innovation wing’s Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Health Sciences, says that this laboratory represents not just technical development but also a deep commitment to research, innovation, and the future of social sciences and healthcare. She underlines that in order to fully realise the laboratory’s potential, research is crucial and forms its basis. By means of thorough investigation, testing, and cooperation, the lab will enhance mental health services, enhance student instruction, and leave a lasting impression on the university’s service areas.
Executive dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Awie Kotze notes that the lab is a reflection of NWU’s dedication to fusing technology with the very human disciplines of social work and psychology. This is a major advancement for NWU and the field of social science and health sciences in general within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Social work and psychology have always been grounded on human interaction, including face-to-face communication, empathy, and body language. But these areas’ techniques must also change as the world does. The knowledge of human conduct has changed as a result of digital technology, which has made it possible to research, assist, and intervene in ways that were not before possible. One of the best examples of this development is the VR simulation lab.
For Neville, who studied how virtual reality may improve psychiatric therapies as part of his PhD, opening this lab is the culmination of a dream. With the help of his mentor, Prof. Retha, Neville saw that there was a need for a foundation for researchers who wanted to use technology in this way and viewed this as a chance to create a facility that would help both present and future research.
Neville thinks that postgraduate students would benefit from the lab the most since they will be able to participate in virtual practice sessions prior to encountering real-life scenarios and interventions. Students will have more access to experiential learning using this strategy.
In addition, he sees the laboratory catering to students majoring in fields other than psychology and social work. Students studying pharmacy, nursing, and engineering, for example, may digitally visit a factory, get a feel for hospital settings, and practice dealing with chemicals before touching them in real life.
Neville says in his conclusion that there are many options.
