Using Augmented Reality To Treat Cockroach Phobia

RichDiesal writes "In this blog post, I describe a new use for augmented reality — treating people for cockroach phobia. A recent paper in the academic journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking discusses a system where people suffering from cockroach phobia sit at a desk with a virtual reality headset. The headset has a camera on the front so that patients see the desk they're sitting at — but covered in cockroaches. In the study, researchers managed to elicit a fear response to virtual cockroaches similar to what would be experienced with real cockroaches. Sounds like a little slice of hell to me."

Comments

La Cucaroacha

[flyneye]

>())))))...

         

I've so-called Cockroach Phobia

[jsse]

I've got cockroach phobia when I was young chasing by a huge flying cockroach like you've seen in some cheap horror movies. It actually knocked me off and took me to its nest to feed its kids. (Ok, the nest part might be in my imagination but it was so real).

For all those years I tried to fight the phobia, say fighting them, killing them, catching them bare hand and even change my facebook profile photo to cockroach.

All in vain, I tell you what. The only thing that could help us is to find a place where no cockroach can be seen to live. I'm at peace for many years.

Now you slashdot put a large freaking photo of cockroaches in the news that broke my nerves. I need to transfer to intensive care unit for severe phobia. Thanks a bunch ass-

Re:I've so-called Cockroach Phobia

[Provocateur]

Roaches on the other hand...

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It
doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will
not stop, ever, until you are dead.

Peril Sensitive sunglasses may be a better option

[jamesh]

Wouldn't it be better that as soon as the glasses detect a cockroach they 'augment reality' by becoming completely opaque?

I thought we already had LSD

[SlappyBastard]

Do we really need electricity to replace what chemistry already does so well?

Re:I think I'll just KEEP MY PHOBIA!!!

[wronskyMan]

Some people are afraid of what they can't see...

Actually cockroaches are quite tasty.

[hellop2]

Or, land crayfish, as they're known colloquially. Some prefer to squeeze out the poo before you pop em in your mouth. But, true connoisseurs actually suck out the poo... some say, it's the best part.

Re:There are better, quicker ways to phobia relief

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure you are and were very well-intentioned, but amateur counseling based on pop psychology is akin to amateur surgery with a shotgun.
You might consider a hobby with less potential danger like hand grenade tennis or blindfolded street racing. ;-)

Re:my cockroach phobia story

[digitalhermit]

I hate cockroaches. Hate them, hate them, hate them.

  Once while working a high school construction job in the Florida Keys, I stayed in the unfinished and very *open* hotel being renovated. In the middle of the night Nature started calling so I got up and started walking down the hallway. The hallway was actually completely open to the outdoors, having only wood beams and no actual wall. At the end of the hallway was a finished wall. As I got closer I noticed something strange -- it looked like there was a curtain blowing in the wind (I have very bad eyesight and at night it's even worse). Then I got closer... When I got about five feet away it was too late. It looked like about five hundred billion cockroaches were on the wall. Then they started flying towards me. The fuckers looked like birds. I screamed. Ran 40yds in about 1 second.

So this is a construction site.. And fellow construction workers being such wonderful souls, they had a good laugh when I woke them up.

Of course the next night they decide to put a live cockroack on my face while I slept.

Fuckers.