Augmented reality is touted to be one of the next big advancements in the field of healthcare, and the latest example of its utility is a mobile app that claims to help people overcome their fear of spiders. Broady classified as arachnophobia, the fear of spiders in humans is said to have developed as an evolutionary mechanism due to the health risks posed by venomous spiders to the early primates. And even though the evolutionary psychology theory of arachnophobia is up for debate, a large number of experts argue that the very real threat posed by venomous spiders made it easier to inculcate a general fear of spiders.
However, there are counter-arguments to the evolutionary theory as well. Studies of certain communities have revealed that arachnophobia is not a genetic trait, but a cultural one, even if the effects are not as pronounced. Plus, the very definition of phobia as an irrational fear makes things even more tricky, as venomous spiders present a very rational threat. Despite the disagreements behind the origins, the widely accepted form of treatment is exposure therapy that involves controlled exposure to the fear agent — spiders, in this case — under expert supervision.
Now, experts have helped develop an app called Phobys that relies on exposure therapy to help tone down the fear of spiders in people who recognize themselves as arachnophobic. The premise is simple — project virtual spiders in the real world and let users self-assess their reactions. Using an AR overlay, the app will show spiders at various levels of perceived proximity to a person using their phone’s screen. Just launch the app, select a level of exposure, and see a spider come to life on a nearby surface in all its arachnid glory. Google employs a similar technique to let users see AR dinosaurs and a wide variety of other animals in the Google app or web browser using its AR Core technology.
At-Home Exposure Therapy For Mild Spider Scare
Developed by MindGuide and experts from the University of Basel, the Phobys app is suitable only for folks above the age of 16 exhibiting a mild and clinically insignificant fear of spiders. For anything worse, users are advised to consult a certified medical expert. Citing a study conducted by the University of Basel, the participants are said to have exhibited a ‘significant reduction of fear and disgust of spiders’ after completing self-training that involved using the app regularly for at least 30 minutes over a two-week span.
There are a total of 10 levels that users can unlock all at once after paying a fee, but the starting level is free to begin the journey, all the way to the final chapter. After completing a chapter, users are asked about the levels of fear and disgust they’ve experienced following the exposure therapy session, and if they’re comfortable progressing to the next tier. As users move to the upper tiers, the effects of sudden proximity and movements of the virtual spider pick up the pace, raising the risk quotient. The Phobys app is yet another example of experts creatively leveraging smartphones for medical benefits. For example, Google already offers an app that allows users to measure breathing rate using only the phone’s camera and is currently at work to let users detect skin conditions as well.
Source: Phobys