Future U VR

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How does empathy with our future selves influence the choices we make today? Future U VR, developed for MAXLab Freiburg and the University of Leiden, is a research tool designed to measure this connection. By bringing participants face-to-face with their future selves in a VR intervention, the study unlocks new insights into decision-making and personality traits.

Made for

MAXLab Freiburg, University of Leiden

Understanding the Future Self

MAXLab Freiburg and the University of Leiden launched the Future U research project to explore the impact of empathy with one’s future self on
decision-making. Their study required innovative tools to facilitate this exploration, including a VR intervention where participants
could interact with a digital version of their future selves.

VR for Scientific Research

Orb Amsterdam refined and expanded the existing VR application, transforming it into a powerful research tool.

Participants enter the study room, where their photo is taken, and an AI-driven process generates an avatar representing both their present self and their future self, ten years older. Once inside the VR environment, they find themselves sitting across from their aged avatar, engaging in a scripted intervention guided by a researcher. The application collects valuable data throughout the experience to support the study’s insights.

To improve the application, we upgraded the VR environment including a more advanced avatar creation flow for improved realism and aging accuracy, expanded data collection capabilities, and richer avatar rendering. Balancing a visually engaging and intuitive experience with advanced technological capabilities was key to maintaining a stable and adaptable research tool.

We also introduced features to facilitate better communication between researchers and participants, streamlining the intervention process. At the same time, the therapist’s control screen was simplified, making it easier to manage and adjust the experience as needed.

Impact Beyond the Study

Future U VR has been actively used by University of Leiden and MAXLab Freiburg, with multiple volunteers contributing to the research. The data collected has been instrumental in publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles such as

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06305-5.epdf?sharing_token=hOZvU_RCZNhwvvy4z-SE6NRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MObYTbBq08BkEGTDUx5InSABGuMyggFflUJ3jR5ImLHMRx9V78yygTt2LNLWCF4PcVQyKm-oKI2qsokBOMKBp6Cv-_wFneXrvcOOiZidJkJVHDUTZDmiQryQ46jITVElQ%3D