Integration of a Heart Rate Monitoring System in a Virtual Reality Relaxation Therapy for Supporting an Immersion Level Measuring Technique

Objectives: The aim of this research is to study the reliability of a heart rate levels monitoring system used in a virtual reality stress therapy. This integrated heart rate monitoring system can be used for measuring the therapy’s effectiveness. This reliable method provides a real time data together with a set of questionnaire that complements each finding during the ten minutes relaxation therapy. Note that questionnaire is answered upon the completion of the experiment. Methods: VR Immersion is supported by a realistic virtual environment viewed by using a 360° head tracking display device. In addition to that, and 360° realistic surround sounds with interactive device further enhanced participants’ immersiveness. As mentioned above, in this paper, a heart rate monitoring device called Hotler was used during a therapy session. This device is recording the heart rate in real time. For this purpose, a heart rate monitoring device and questionnaire are used instead of just questionnaire for understanding the commonality between them in relation to immersion levels. Findings: The findings show that 15 out of 24 participants have given a score of 14 over 20 which indicate that they have immersed while undergoing the treatment. Note that an average of 12.33 is obtained from the 15 participants’ questions form. This is supported by the heart rate data where in most cases, it shows that participants’ heart rate has become normal. The majority of them have reached a heart rate of 76.1. This normal hate rate is found to be synchronized with data from the questionnaire. From these relations, heart rate and questionnaire, it suggests that participants are relaxing using virtual reality therapy system that their heart rate after therapy tends to stabilize normally. Applications: This research shows that VR-based relaxation therapy can be effective as indicated by immersion questionnaire with a support by heart rate monitoring device.