VR for Workplace Wellness

The Conflict Management Office, with support from the Staff Excellence Fund (SEF), has placed three Meta Quest 2 head-mounted displays (HMDs) in each of the Dana Porter and Davis Center libraries.聽

The VR headsets have been preloaded with Nature Treks VR and and are available for all University of 蓝莓视频 staff (part-time, full-time, casual, and student staff) to sign out for one-hour intervals at the circulation desk.聽

For more information about how to use the headsets, review the 鈥淕etting Started鈥澛爎esources below, or attend a drop-in session. Questions can be directed to Lynn Long (l3long@waterloo.ca), Senior Education Specialist in the Conflict Management and Human Rights Office. Thanks to Lynn Long and Gillian Dabrowski for their work setting up this program!

Nature Treks

A black woman wearing a virtual reality headset, in a forest setting with tall trees and sunlight. The image is AI-generated.

Research has repeatedly demonstrated that spending time in nature can positively impact our personal wellbeing. While we don鈥檛 always have easy access to natural spaces, recent research is demonstrating that even encountering nature using immersive virtual reality can have similar positive effects!

These effects include facilitating recovery of depleted emotional capacity and even boosting creativity. In a 2022 study, workers in a high stress work environment who took a short nature break (less than 30 minutes) using the Nature Treks VR app, reported significantly increased feelings of happiness and relaxation, as well as significantly decreased feelings of sadness, anger, and anxiety. The experience was also associated with a significant reduction in heart rate.

Nature Treks VR allows you to explore a wide variety of natural settings including tropical beaches, green fields, underwater oceans, and outer space. Within these spaces you can interact with more than 60 different animals, and change the weather and time of day.

Ovation

Immersive VR can significantly enhance wellness among staff at the University of 蓝莓视频 by addressing the stress of public speaking and preparing them for difficult conversations or meetings. uses AI to create realistic speaking scenarios tailored to the needs of the user: one-on-one conversations, small group discussion, or presentation in large auditoriums. This allows staff to practice in a safe, controlled environment, gradually building confidence and reducing anxiety.

The platform can simulate challenging conversations, such as performance reviews, job interviews, or conflict resolution, using AI-driven avatars. Staff can practice these interactions and receive feedback on their communication style, enhancing their ability to handle difficult conversations with confidence and reducing workplace stress. Ovation also offers聽one-on-one language tutoring with an AI avatar.

Ovation offers many accessibility features including font size adjustment, captioned AI responses, reading level adjustment for AI feedback, high contrast menu, volume controls, voice transcription, height adjustments for seated mode, and one-handed support.

Ovation orientation sessions

Attend an Ovation orientation session on Zoom:

  • Thursday, March 6, 3:00 - 4:00

  • Friday, March 14, 2:00 - 3:00

  • Tuesday, March 25, 12:00 - 1:00

Please contact Lynn Long at聽l3long@waterloo.ca聽if you're interested in attending.

Winter 2025 drop-in sessions

Visit a drop-in session in the Learning Lab on the third floor of Dana Porter Library to learn how to use the headsets 鈥 it's easy!

  • Thursday, January 30, 2025, 12:00 鈥 2:00

  • Thursday, February 27, 2025, 12:00 鈥 2:00

  • Thursday, March 27, 2025, 12:00 鈥 2:00

  • Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 12:00 鈥 2:00

Getting started

If you haven鈥檛 used a Meta Quest 2 before or need a refresher, these links have been selected/created to help you get up and running as quickly as possible.

Using the Meta Quest 2 headsets

Instructions and video to help you , including how to:

  • Power on/off
  • Connect to wifi
  • Adjust your headset
  • Set up a safety boundary
  • Use the hand controls

Other instructions:

References

Adhyaru, J. S., & Kemp, C. (2022). Virtual reality as a tool to promote wellbeing in the workplace. Digital Health, 8, 205520762210844. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221084473

Antonelli, M., Donelli, D., Carlone, L., Maggini, V., Firenzuoli, F., & Bedeschi, E. (2022). Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on individual well-being: An umbrella review.聽International Journal of Environmental Health Research,听32(8), 1842-1867.

Browning, M. H., Mimnaugh, K. J., Van Riper, C. J., Laurent, H. K., & LaValle, S. M. (2020). Can simulated nature support mental health? Comparing short, single-doses of 360-degree nature videos in virtual reality with the outdoors. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2667.

Karacan, B., Kombeiz, O., & Steidle, A. (2021). Powered by virtual realities: promoting emotional recovery through technology-based recovery interventions. Ergonomics, 64(10), 1351-1366.

Palanica, A., Lyons, A., Cooper, M., Lee, A., & Fossat, Y. (2019). A comparison of nature and urban environments on creative thinking across different levels of reality.聽Journal of Environmental Psychology,听63, 44-51.