Medical procedures are inherently invasive and carry the risk of inducing pain to the mind and body.Recently,efforts have been made to alleviate the discomfort associated with invasive medical procedures through the u...Medical procedures are inherently invasive and carry the risk of inducing pain to the mind and body.Recently,efforts have been made to alleviate the discomfort associated with invasive medical procedures through the use of virtual reality(VR)technology.VR has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for pain associated with medical procedures,as well as for chronic pain conditions for which no effective treatment has been established.The precise mechanism by which the diversion from reality facilitated by VR contributes to the diminution of pain and anxiety has yet to be elucidated.However,the provision of positive images through VR-based visual stimulation may enhance the functionality of brain networks.The salience network is diminished,while the default mode network is enhanced.Additionally,the medial prefrontal cortex may establish a stronger connection with the default mode network,which could result in a reduction of pain and anxiety.Further research into the potential of VR technology to alleviate pain could lead to a reduction in the number of individuals who overdose on painkillers and contribute to positive change in the medical field.展开更多
The use of virtual reality to educate preoperative patients has a positive impact on nurses as well as patients undergoing treatment.It can help improve patient satisfaction and improve favorable outcomes by reducing ...The use of virtual reality to educate preoperative patients has a positive impact on nurses as well as patients undergoing treatment.It can help improve patient satisfaction and improve favorable outcomes by reducing patient anxiety and proving adequate knowledge about the procedure and possible outcomes to the patient.It also reduces burden on nursing staff and counsellors.Larger and more diverse cohort studies will help us understand the wider application of this tool on the patient population.It may be difficult to apply this tool on elderly patients with failing eyesight,multiple physical comorbidities.Also,there may be reduced acceptance of this modality by older nursing staff and practitioners who may prefer the traditional verbal version for counselling.We will benefit from a combined approach of using virtual reality apps with tradition one-on-one counselling to help alleviate patient concerns and improve patient and healthcare professional satisfaction.展开更多
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of optokinetic stimulation (OKS) using virtual reality (VR) on visual dependency and sensory reweighting in postural control during static standing. Speci...Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of optokinetic stimulation (OKS) using virtual reality (VR) on visual dependency and sensory reweighting in postural control during static standing. Specifically, it examined whether VR-based OKS could reduce visual dependency more effectively than visual deprivation through eye closure. Methods: Ten healthy adults participated in this study. A balance function meter was used to measure postural stability, including Romberg ratios before and after two conditions: VR-based OKS (VR + OKS) and eye closure (EC). Participants performed a two-minute standing task under each condition in random order, with adequate rest between tasks. In the VR + OKS condition, a smartphone-based VR headset presented a rotational OKS, while in the EC condition, participants stood with their eyes closed. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-task Romberg ratios. Results: No significant differences were observed in the pre-task Romberg ratios between conditions. After the VR + OKS condition, significant reductions in Romberg A and Romberg V were observed. In contrast, no significant changes were noted in Romberg ratios after the EC condition. Conclusion: VR-based OKS significantly reduced visual dependency, as indicated by decreased Romberg ratios, suggesting its potential to facilitate sensory reweighting during postural control. These findings highlight the utility of low-cost VR devices in balance rehabilitation for conditions involving high visual dependency. Future studies should expand on this preliminary research by including larger sample sizes and diverse populations to confirm its clinical applicability.展开更多
To address the challenges of insufficient visualization in the industrial robot assembly operation system and the limitation of visualizing only geometric attributes of physical properties,a method is proposed for con...To address the challenges of insufficient visualization in the industrial robot assembly operation system and the limitation of visualizing only geometric attributes of physical properties,a method is proposed for constructing an industrial robot assembly system based on virtual reality technology.Focusing on the shaft hole assembly,the mechanical characteristics of the industrial robot shaft hole assembly process are analyzed and a dynamic model is established for shaft hole assembly operations.The key elements of virtual assembly operations for industrial robots are summarized and a five-dimensional model is proposed for industrial robot virtual operations.Utilizing the Unity3D engine based on the 5-D model for industrial robot virtual operations,an industrial robot shaft hole assembly system is developed.This system enables virtual assembly operations,displays physical attributes,and provides valuable references for the research of virtual systems.展开更多
The objective of image-based virtual try-on is to seamlessly integrate clothing onto a target image, generating a realistic representation of the character in the specified attire. However, existing virtual try-on met...The objective of image-based virtual try-on is to seamlessly integrate clothing onto a target image, generating a realistic representation of the character in the specified attire. However, existing virtual try-on methods frequently encounter challenges, including misalignment between the body and clothing, noticeable artifacts, and the loss of intricate garment details. To overcome these challenges, we introduce a two-stage high-resolution virtual try-on framework that integrates an attention mechanism, comprising a garment warping stage and an image generation stage. During the garment warping stage, we incorporate a channel attention mechanism to effectively retain the critical features of the garment, addressing challenges such as the loss of patterns, colors, and other essential details commonly observed in virtual try-on images produced by existing methods. During the image generation stage, with the aim of maximizing the utilization of the information proffered by the input image, the input features undergo double sampling within the normalization procedure, thereby enhancing the detail fidelity and clothing alignment efficacy of the output image. Experimental evaluations conducted on high-resolution datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results demonstrate significant improvements in preserving garment details, reducing artifacts, and achieving superior alignment between the clothing and body compared to baseline methods, establishing its advantage in generating realistic and high-quality virtual try-on images.展开更多
Background Haptic feedback plays a crucial role in virtual reality(VR)interaction,helping to improve the precision of user operation and enhancing the immersion of the user experience.Instrumental haptic feedback in v...Background Haptic feedback plays a crucial role in virtual reality(VR)interaction,helping to improve the precision of user operation and enhancing the immersion of the user experience.Instrumental haptic feedback in virtual environments is primarily realized using grounded force or vibration feedback devices.However,improvements are required in terms of the active space and feedback realism.Methods We propose a lightweight and flexible haptic feedback glove that can haptically render objects in VR environments via kinesthetic and vibration feedback,thereby enabling users to enjoy a rich virtual piano-playing experience.The kinesthetic feedback of the glove relies on a cable-pulling mechanism that rotates the mechanism and pulls the two cables connected to it,thereby changing the amount of force generated to simulate the hardness or softness of the object.Vibration feedback is provided by small vibration motors embedded in the bottom of the fingertips of the glove.We designed a piano-playing scenario in the virtual environment and conducted user tests.The evaluation metrics were clarity,realism,enjoyment,and satisfaction.Results A total of 14 subjects participated in the test,and the results showed that our proposed glove scored significantly higher on the four evaluation metrics than the nofeedback and vibration feedback methods.Conclusions Our proposed glove significantly enhances the user experience when interacting with virtual objects.展开更多
Conceptualizations of empathy have been most fully developed in a variety of fields in recent years.Many approaches to empathy dwell on the cognitive,affective,and behavioral aspects,the intra-psychic processes that c...Conceptualizations of empathy have been most fully developed in a variety of fields in recent years.Many approaches to empathy dwell on the cognitive,affective,and behavioral aspects,the intra-psychic processes that cause one to feel emotions more like those of another,rather than the interpersonal functions of empathy,which may be influenced by the variables during the communication process.Therefore,this study designed and implemented a virtual ethnographic intercultural project between Chinese and American university students with WeChat as the main social medium.The whole process included three phases:exploring the unique cultural experiences of Chinese and American students,seeking an empathy based on commonality and seeking a relational empathy,a form of harmonization and integration through interactive and continuous intercultural dialogues.During the process,the method of discourse-centered online ethnography(DCOE)was employed,which involved systematic observation and interaction with WeChat users.We used the collective data to analyze how relational empathy was developed through understanding cultural differences,seeking similarities,and creating a third culture by engaging students in a substantial and dynamic natural and interactive setting.The study shows that the most challenging process to nurture relational empathy is to move from Phases One and Two to Phase Three,during which,some strategies to build relational empathy need to be taught and practiced in a specific cultural setting.In conclusion,virtual ethnographic intercultural teaching is an effective approach to offer students a long-term intercultural dialogue and insight into developing shared meaning,or dynamic relational empathy with culturally different others.展开更多
In the realm of virtual reality(VR),haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience;yet,existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback,lacking options for compact and non-contact...In the realm of virtual reality(VR),haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience;yet,existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback,lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback.Herein,we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation.This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to~163 Pa,which is significantly sensed by human skin.In a typical demonstration,the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting.The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups,and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments.This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human-machine interfaces for VR applications.展开更多
Background The redirected walking(RDW)method for multi-user collaboration requires maintaining the relative position between users in a virtual environment(VE)and physical environment(PE).A chasing game in a VE is a t...Background The redirected walking(RDW)method for multi-user collaboration requires maintaining the relative position between users in a virtual environment(VE)and physical environment(PE).A chasing game in a VE is a typical virtual reality game that entails multi-user collaboration.When a user approaches and interacts with a target user in the VE,the user is expected to approach and interact with the target user in the corresponding PE as well.Existing methods of multi-user RDW mainly focus on obstacle avoidance,which does not account for the relative positional relationship between the users in both VE and PE.Methods To enhance the user experience and facilitate potential interaction,this paper presents a novel dynamic alignment algorithm for multi-user collaborative redirected walking(DA-RDW)in a shared PE where the target user and other users are moving.This algorithm adopts improved artificial potential fields,where the repulsive force is a function of the relative position and velocity of the user with respect to dynamic obstacles.For the best alignment,this algorithm sets the alignment-guidance force in several cases and then converts it into a constrained optimization problem to obtain the optimal direction.Moreover,this algorithm introduces a potential interaction object selection strategy for a dynamically uncertain environment to speed up the subsequent alignment.To balance obstacle avoidance and alignment,this algorithm uses the dynamic weightings of the virtual and physical distances between users and the target to determine the resultant force vector.Results The efficacy of the proposed method was evaluated using a series of simulations and live-user experiments.The experimental results demonstrate that our novel dynamic alignment method for multi-user collaborative redirected walking can reduce the distance error in both VE and PE to improve alignment with fewer collisions.展开更多
As the penetration rate of distributed energy increases,the transient power angle stability problem of the virtual synchronous generator(VSG)has gradually become prominent.In view of the situation that the grid impeda...As the penetration rate of distributed energy increases,the transient power angle stability problem of the virtual synchronous generator(VSG)has gradually become prominent.In view of the situation that the grid impedance ratio(R/X)is high and affects the transient power angle stability of VSG,this paper proposes a VSG transient power angle stability control strategy based on the combination of frequency difference feedback and virtual impedance.To improve the transient power angle stability of the VSG,a virtual impedance is adopted in the voltage loop to adjust the impedance ratio R/X;and the PI control feedback of the VSG frequency difference is introduced in the reactive powervoltage link of theVSGto enhance the damping effect.Thesecond-orderVSGdynamic nonlinearmodel considering the reactive power-voltage loop is established and the influence of different proportional integral(PI)control parameters on the system balance stability is analyzed.Moreover,the impact of the impedance ratio R/X on the transient power angle stability is presented using the equal area criterion.In the simulations,during the voltage dips with the reduction of R/X from 1.6 to 0.8,Δδ_(1)is reduced from 0.194 rad to 0.072 rad,Δf_(1)is reduced from 0.170 to 0.093 Hz,which shows better transient power angle stability.Simulation results verify that compared with traditional VSG,the proposedmethod can effectively improve the transient power angle stability of the system.展开更多
By introducing virtual water(VW)flow correlation coefficients and risk indicators,this study examines the VW transmission relationship between urban agglomerations and cities in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)and its impa...By introducing virtual water(VW)flow correlation coefficients and risk indicators,this study examines the VW transmission relationship between urban agglomerations and cities in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)and its impact on regional water resources pressure.The results show that:except for the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration(SPUA)and Central Plains Urban Agglomeration(CPUA),the other urban agglomerations primarily act as VW exporting regions,while virtual water-importing cities are concentrated in the eastern regions.Notably,the Ningxia Urban Agglomeration(NUA)demonstrates significantly higher VW impact and sensitivity coefficients values than the remaining six urban agglomerations.First-tier cities generally display lower virtual water impact and sensitivity coefficients,whereas emerging cities exhibit the opposite trend.Additionally,we observe uneven risk variations between VW importing and exporting regions.Taking NUA as an example,the risk increase resulting from VW exports significantly exceeds the risk reduction associated with VW imports in the corresponding regions.It’s important to highlight that first-tier cities consistently decrease water resource risk through VW imports in the study years.However,among second and third-tier cities,only 38.9%experience reduced water resource risk through VW imports.Therefore,we recommend a focused examination of VW imports and exports in western region urban agglomerations,cities,and second and third-tier cities within the watershed.Leveraging virtual water’s asymmetric and high-value transfer can alleviate water resource pressure and scarcity risks in high-pressure regions by shifting them to lower-pressure regions,thus mitigating water resource stress across regions.展开更多
Under the background of the era of rapid development of the meta-universe,the fusion of virtual and reality in new media art creation has become a key trend.Starting from the concept of meta-universe and new media art...Under the background of the era of rapid development of the meta-universe,the fusion of virtual and reality in new media art creation has become a key trend.Starting from the concept of meta-universe and new media art,this paper analyzes the connection between the two in depth,elaborates on the manifestation of the fusion of virtual and reality in new media art creation,explores the challenges and problems it faces,and puts forward coping strategies with the aim of providing theoretical support for the development of the creation of new media art under the context of the meta-universe,and promoting the innovation and progress of art creation.展开更多
The present paper addresses two issues pertaining to the use of virtual reality(VR).One issue pertains to the equipment utilized.VR technology can be classified into two main categories:Immersive and non-immersive.The...The present paper addresses two issues pertaining to the use of virtual reality(VR).One issue pertains to the equipment utilized.VR technology can be classified into two main categories:Immersive and non-immersive.The immersive type of technology necessitates the use of substantial equipment,yet it is demonstrably efficacious.Furthermore,the efficacy of this approach is enhanced when combined with relaxation and biofeedback techniques.The other issue is that the efficacy of this approach is diminished when applied to chronic pain,in comparison to acute pain.The relief of chronic pain is a challenging endeavor due to the diminished functionality of the medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC)within the default mode network.Given the close relationship between the mPFC and the reward system dopamine,it is essential to develop a program that activates the reward system dopamine through the use of VR technology.展开更多
Virtual Power Plants(VPPs)are integral to modern energy systems,providing stability and reliability in the face of the inherent complexities and fluctuations of solar power data.Traditional anomaly detection methodolo...Virtual Power Plants(VPPs)are integral to modern energy systems,providing stability and reliability in the face of the inherent complexities and fluctuations of solar power data.Traditional anomaly detection methodologies often need to adequately handle these fluctuations from solar radiation and ambient temperature variations.We introduce the Memory-Enhanced Autoencoder with Adversarial Training(MemAAE)model to overcome these limitations,designed explicitly for robust anomaly detection in VPP environments.The MemAAE model integrates three principal components:an LSTM-based autoencoder that effectively captures temporal dynamics to distinguish between normal and anomalous behaviors,an adversarial training module that enhances system resilience across diverse operational scenarios,and a prediction module that aids the autoencoder during the reconstruction process,thereby facilitating precise anomaly identification.Furthermore,MemAAE features a memory mechanism that stores critical pattern information,mitigating overfitting,alongside a dynamic threshold adjustment mechanism that adapts detection thresholds in response to evolving operational conditions.Our empirical evaluation of the MemAAE model using real-world solar power data shows that the model outperforms other comparative models on both datasets.On the Sopan-Finder dataset,MemAAE has an accuracy of 99.17%and an F1-score of 95.79%,while on the Sunalab Faro PV 2017 dataset,it has an accuracy of 97.67%and an F1-score of 93.27%.Significant performance advantages have been achieved on both datasets.These results show that MemAAE model is an effective method for real-time anomaly detection in virtual power plants(VPPs),which can enhance robustness and adaptability to inherent variables in solar power generation.展开更多
Objectives:To explore the efficacy and safety of virtual reality(VR)in relieving negative emotions in patients with breast cancer with different personalities.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was conducted.Betwee...Objectives:To explore the efficacy and safety of virtual reality(VR)in relieving negative emotions in patients with breast cancer with different personalities.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was conducted.Between April 2023 and October 2023,we enrolled patients with breast cancer treated in the Department of Breast Cancer and Oncology at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangdong Province.The patients were randomly divided into an intervention group(n=118)and a control group(n=119)using block randomization.The intervention group received the VR intervention 3-5 times over 5±2 weeks using natural landscapes with music or relaxation guidance,and the duration of each VR intervention was 15±3 min.The control group received routine nursing care,including disease education and psychological counseling.Patients were assessed using the Type D Scale,Positive and Negative Affect Scale,and Distress Thermometer,and adverse events during the intervention were recorded.Results:Overall,85 patients completed the study(44 in the intervention group and 41 in the control group).Patients with Type D personalities showed more negative emotions[25.0(21.5,27.5)vs.19.0(16.0,24.0),P=0.001]and distressed attitudes[4.0(2.0,5.0)vs.3.0(1.0,4.0),P=0.020]with fewer positive emotions(27.2±5.6 vs.31.0±5.9,P=0.014)than those with non-Type D personalities.Total population analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups.However,in the subgroup analysis,patients with Type D personalities in the intervention group showed greater relief from negative emotions than those in the control group[median difference,-5.0(-9.0,-2.5)vs.-2.0(-4.0,2.0),P=0.046].No significant differences were found between groups of patients with non-Type D personality traits.The proportion of adverse events was not significantly different between groups(P=0.110).Conclusions:Breast cancer patients with Type D personalities suffer more severe negative emotions and distress,and more attention should be paid to them.VR intervention significantly and safely reduced negative emotions in patients with Type D personalities.展开更多
This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards grea...This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards greater decentralization and renewable integration,traditional optimization methods struggle to address the inherent complexities and uncertainties.Our proposed MARL framework enables adaptive,decentralized decision-making for both the distribution system operator and individual VPPs,optimizing economic efficiency while maintaining grid stability.We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and develop a custom MARL algorithm that leverages actor-critic architectures and experience replay.Extensive simulations across diverse scenarios demonstrate that our approach consistently outperforms baseline methods,including Stackelberg game models and model predictive control,achieving an 18.73%reduction in costs and a 22.46%increase in VPP profits.The MARL framework shows particular strength in scenarios with high renewable energy penetration,where it improves system performance by 11.95%compared with traditional methods.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates superior adaptability to unexpected events and mis-predictions,highlighting its potential for real-world implementation.展开更多
Current rates of mental illness are worrisome.Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups.The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementat...Current rates of mental illness are worrisome.Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups.The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementation of novel mental health treatments using virtual reality,augmented reality,and artificial intelligence.A new three dimensional digital environment,known as the metaverse,has emerged as the next version of the Internet.Artificial intelligence,augmented reality,and virtual reality will create fully immersive,experiential,and interactive online environments in the metaverse.People will use a unique avatar to do anything they do in their“real”lives,including seeking and receiving mental health care.In this opinion review,we reflect on how the metaverse could reshape how we deliver mental health treatment,its opportunities,and its challenges.展开更多
This paper proposes a virtual position-offset injection based permanent magnet temperature estimation approach for permanent magnet synchronous machines(PMSMs). The concept of virtual position-offset injection is math...This paper proposes a virtual position-offset injection based permanent magnet temperature estimation approach for permanent magnet synchronous machines(PMSMs). The concept of virtual position-offset injection is mathematically transforming the machine model to a virtual frame with a position-offset. The virtual frame temperature estimation model is derived to calculate the permanent magnet temperature(PMT) directly from the measurements with computation efficiency. The estimation model involves a combined inductance term, which can simplify the establishment of saturation compensation model with less measurements. Moreover, resistance and inverter distorted terms are cancelled in the estimation model, which can improve the robustness to the winding temperature rise and inverter distortion. The proposed approach can achieve simplified computation in temperature estimation and reduced memory usage in saturation compensation. While existing model-based approaches could be affected by either the need of resistance and inverter information or complex saturation compensation. Experiments are conducted on the test machine to verify the proposed approach under various operating conditions.展开更多
BACKGROUND Traditional paper-based preoperative patient education is a struggle for new nurses and requires extensive training.In this situation,virtual reality technology can help the new nurses.Despite its potential...BACKGROUND Traditional paper-based preoperative patient education is a struggle for new nurses and requires extensive training.In this situation,virtual reality technology can help the new nurses.Despite its potential benefits,there are studies on patient satisfaction but there is limited information on the usability of virtual reality(VR)technology for new nurses in giving preoperative education to patients.AIM To investigate the impact on satisfaction,usability,and burnout of a system using VR technology in preoperative patient education.METHODS The study involved 20 nurses from the plastic surgery ward and 80 patients admitted between April and May 2019.Each nurse taught four patients:Two using traditional verbal education and two using virtual reality.The System Usability Scale,After-Scenario Questionnaire,and Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI)were employed to evaluate the impact of these education methods.RESULTS The VR education groups showed a statistically higher satisfaction than the traditional verbal education groups.Among the three subscales of the MBI,emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment improved statistically significantly.VR was also better in terms of usability.CONCLUSION This study suggests VR enhances usability and reduces burnout in nurses,but further research is needed to assess its impact on depersonalization and objective measures like stress and heart rate.展开更多
文摘Medical procedures are inherently invasive and carry the risk of inducing pain to the mind and body.Recently,efforts have been made to alleviate the discomfort associated with invasive medical procedures through the use of virtual reality(VR)technology.VR has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for pain associated with medical procedures,as well as for chronic pain conditions for which no effective treatment has been established.The precise mechanism by which the diversion from reality facilitated by VR contributes to the diminution of pain and anxiety has yet to be elucidated.However,the provision of positive images through VR-based visual stimulation may enhance the functionality of brain networks.The salience network is diminished,while the default mode network is enhanced.Additionally,the medial prefrontal cortex may establish a stronger connection with the default mode network,which could result in a reduction of pain and anxiety.Further research into the potential of VR technology to alleviate pain could lead to a reduction in the number of individuals who overdose on painkillers and contribute to positive change in the medical field.
文摘The use of virtual reality to educate preoperative patients has a positive impact on nurses as well as patients undergoing treatment.It can help improve patient satisfaction and improve favorable outcomes by reducing patient anxiety and proving adequate knowledge about the procedure and possible outcomes to the patient.It also reduces burden on nursing staff and counsellors.Larger and more diverse cohort studies will help us understand the wider application of this tool on the patient population.It may be difficult to apply this tool on elderly patients with failing eyesight,multiple physical comorbidities.Also,there may be reduced acceptance of this modality by older nursing staff and practitioners who may prefer the traditional verbal version for counselling.We will benefit from a combined approach of using virtual reality apps with tradition one-on-one counselling to help alleviate patient concerns and improve patient and healthcare professional satisfaction.
文摘Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of optokinetic stimulation (OKS) using virtual reality (VR) on visual dependency and sensory reweighting in postural control during static standing. Specifically, it examined whether VR-based OKS could reduce visual dependency more effectively than visual deprivation through eye closure. Methods: Ten healthy adults participated in this study. A balance function meter was used to measure postural stability, including Romberg ratios before and after two conditions: VR-based OKS (VR + OKS) and eye closure (EC). Participants performed a two-minute standing task under each condition in random order, with adequate rest between tasks. In the VR + OKS condition, a smartphone-based VR headset presented a rotational OKS, while in the EC condition, participants stood with their eyes closed. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-task Romberg ratios. Results: No significant differences were observed in the pre-task Romberg ratios between conditions. After the VR + OKS condition, significant reductions in Romberg A and Romberg V were observed. In contrast, no significant changes were noted in Romberg ratios after the EC condition. Conclusion: VR-based OKS significantly reduced visual dependency, as indicated by decreased Romberg ratios, suggesting its potential to facilitate sensory reweighting during postural control. These findings highlight the utility of low-cost VR devices in balance rehabilitation for conditions involving high visual dependency. Future studies should expand on this preliminary research by including larger sample sizes and diverse populations to confirm its clinical applicability.
基金Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52005003)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Wuhu City(Grant No.2022jc41)。
文摘To address the challenges of insufficient visualization in the industrial robot assembly operation system and the limitation of visualizing only geometric attributes of physical properties,a method is proposed for constructing an industrial robot assembly system based on virtual reality technology.Focusing on the shaft hole assembly,the mechanical characteristics of the industrial robot shaft hole assembly process are analyzed and a dynamic model is established for shaft hole assembly operations.The key elements of virtual assembly operations for industrial robots are summarized and a five-dimensional model is proposed for industrial robot virtual operations.Utilizing the Unity3D engine based on the 5-D model for industrial robot virtual operations,an industrial robot shaft hole assembly system is developed.This system enables virtual assembly operations,displays physical attributes,and provides valuable references for the research of virtual systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(61772179)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2022JJ50016,2023JJ50095)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Plan Project of Hunan Province(2016TP1020)Double First-Class University Project of Hunan Province(Xiangjiaotong[2018]469,[2020]248).
文摘The objective of image-based virtual try-on is to seamlessly integrate clothing onto a target image, generating a realistic representation of the character in the specified attire. However, existing virtual try-on methods frequently encounter challenges, including misalignment between the body and clothing, noticeable artifacts, and the loss of intricate garment details. To overcome these challenges, we introduce a two-stage high-resolution virtual try-on framework that integrates an attention mechanism, comprising a garment warping stage and an image generation stage. During the garment warping stage, we incorporate a channel attention mechanism to effectively retain the critical features of the garment, addressing challenges such as the loss of patterns, colors, and other essential details commonly observed in virtual try-on images produced by existing methods. During the image generation stage, with the aim of maximizing the utilization of the information proffered by the input image, the input features undergo double sampling within the normalization procedure, thereby enhancing the detail fidelity and clothing alignment efficacy of the output image. Experimental evaluations conducted on high-resolution datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results demonstrate significant improvements in preserving garment details, reducing artifacts, and achieving superior alignment between the clothing and body compared to baseline methods, establishing its advantage in generating realistic and high-quality virtual try-on images.
基金Supported by the Natienal Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20287).
文摘Background Haptic feedback plays a crucial role in virtual reality(VR)interaction,helping to improve the precision of user operation and enhancing the immersion of the user experience.Instrumental haptic feedback in virtual environments is primarily realized using grounded force or vibration feedback devices.However,improvements are required in terms of the active space and feedback realism.Methods We propose a lightweight and flexible haptic feedback glove that can haptically render objects in VR environments via kinesthetic and vibration feedback,thereby enabling users to enjoy a rich virtual piano-playing experience.The kinesthetic feedback of the glove relies on a cable-pulling mechanism that rotates the mechanism and pulls the two cables connected to it,thereby changing the amount of force generated to simulate the hardness or softness of the object.Vibration feedback is provided by small vibration motors embedded in the bottom of the fingertips of the glove.We designed a piano-playing scenario in the virtual environment and conducted user tests.The evaluation metrics were clarity,realism,enjoyment,and satisfaction.Results A total of 14 subjects participated in the test,and the results showed that our proposed glove scored significantly higher on the four evaluation metrics than the nofeedback and vibration feedback methods.Conclusions Our proposed glove significantly enhances the user experience when interacting with virtual objects.
文摘Conceptualizations of empathy have been most fully developed in a variety of fields in recent years.Many approaches to empathy dwell on the cognitive,affective,and behavioral aspects,the intra-psychic processes that cause one to feel emotions more like those of another,rather than the interpersonal functions of empathy,which may be influenced by the variables during the communication process.Therefore,this study designed and implemented a virtual ethnographic intercultural project between Chinese and American university students with WeChat as the main social medium.The whole process included three phases:exploring the unique cultural experiences of Chinese and American students,seeking an empathy based on commonality and seeking a relational empathy,a form of harmonization and integration through interactive and continuous intercultural dialogues.During the process,the method of discourse-centered online ethnography(DCOE)was employed,which involved systematic observation and interaction with WeChat users.We used the collective data to analyze how relational empathy was developed through understanding cultural differences,seeking similarities,and creating a third culture by engaging students in a substantial and dynamic natural and interactive setting.The study shows that the most challenging process to nurture relational empathy is to move from Phases One and Two to Phase Three,during which,some strategies to build relational empathy need to be taught and practiced in a specific cultural setting.In conclusion,virtual ethnographic intercultural teaching is an effective approach to offer students a long-term intercultural dialogue and insight into developing shared meaning,or dynamic relational empathy with culturally different others.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR(File No.0117/2024/AMJ)University of Macao(MYRG-GRG2023-00041-FST-UMDF,MYRG-GRG2024-00121-FST,MYRG-CRG2024-00014-FST-ICI)Zhuhai UM Science&Technology Research Institute(CP-009-2024).
文摘In the realm of virtual reality(VR),haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience;yet,existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback,lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback.Herein,we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation.This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to~163 Pa,which is significantly sensed by human skin.In a typical demonstration,the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting.The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups,and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments.This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human-machine interfaces for VR applications.
基金Supported by STI 2030 Major Projects of China(2021ZD0200400).
文摘Background The redirected walking(RDW)method for multi-user collaboration requires maintaining the relative position between users in a virtual environment(VE)and physical environment(PE).A chasing game in a VE is a typical virtual reality game that entails multi-user collaboration.When a user approaches and interacts with a target user in the VE,the user is expected to approach and interact with the target user in the corresponding PE as well.Existing methods of multi-user RDW mainly focus on obstacle avoidance,which does not account for the relative positional relationship between the users in both VE and PE.Methods To enhance the user experience and facilitate potential interaction,this paper presents a novel dynamic alignment algorithm for multi-user collaborative redirected walking(DA-RDW)in a shared PE where the target user and other users are moving.This algorithm adopts improved artificial potential fields,where the repulsive force is a function of the relative position and velocity of the user with respect to dynamic obstacles.For the best alignment,this algorithm sets the alignment-guidance force in several cases and then converts it into a constrained optimization problem to obtain the optimal direction.Moreover,this algorithm introduces a potential interaction object selection strategy for a dynamically uncertain environment to speed up the subsequent alignment.To balance obstacle avoidance and alignment,this algorithm uses the dynamic weightings of the virtual and physical distances between users and the target to determine the resultant force vector.Results The efficacy of the proposed method was evaluated using a series of simulations and live-user experiments.The experimental results demonstrate that our novel dynamic alignment method for multi-user collaborative redirected walking can reduce the distance error in both VE and PE to improve alignment with fewer collisions.
基金supported by theMajor Science and Technology Projects of China Southern Power Grid(Grant number CGYKJXM20210328).
文摘As the penetration rate of distributed energy increases,the transient power angle stability problem of the virtual synchronous generator(VSG)has gradually become prominent.In view of the situation that the grid impedance ratio(R/X)is high and affects the transient power angle stability of VSG,this paper proposes a VSG transient power angle stability control strategy based on the combination of frequency difference feedback and virtual impedance.To improve the transient power angle stability of the VSG,a virtual impedance is adopted in the voltage loop to adjust the impedance ratio R/X;and the PI control feedback of the VSG frequency difference is introduced in the reactive powervoltage link of theVSGto enhance the damping effect.Thesecond-orderVSGdynamic nonlinearmodel considering the reactive power-voltage loop is established and the influence of different proportional integral(PI)control parameters on the system balance stability is analyzed.Moreover,the impact of the impedance ratio R/X on the transient power angle stability is presented using the equal area criterion.In the simulations,during the voltage dips with the reduction of R/X from 1.6 to 0.8,Δδ_(1)is reduced from 0.194 rad to 0.072 rad,Δf_(1)is reduced from 0.170 to 0.093 Hz,which shows better transient power angle stability.Simulation results verify that compared with traditional VSG,the proposedmethod can effectively improve the transient power angle stability of the system.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42201302)the“Double First-Class”University Construction Project of Lanzhou University(Grant No.561120213)the Graduate Research Funding Project of Northwest Normal University(Grant No.2022KYZZ-S195).
文摘By introducing virtual water(VW)flow correlation coefficients and risk indicators,this study examines the VW transmission relationship between urban agglomerations and cities in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)and its impact on regional water resources pressure.The results show that:except for the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration(SPUA)and Central Plains Urban Agglomeration(CPUA),the other urban agglomerations primarily act as VW exporting regions,while virtual water-importing cities are concentrated in the eastern regions.Notably,the Ningxia Urban Agglomeration(NUA)demonstrates significantly higher VW impact and sensitivity coefficients values than the remaining six urban agglomerations.First-tier cities generally display lower virtual water impact and sensitivity coefficients,whereas emerging cities exhibit the opposite trend.Additionally,we observe uneven risk variations between VW importing and exporting regions.Taking NUA as an example,the risk increase resulting from VW exports significantly exceeds the risk reduction associated with VW imports in the corresponding regions.It’s important to highlight that first-tier cities consistently decrease water resource risk through VW imports in the study years.However,among second and third-tier cities,only 38.9%experience reduced water resource risk through VW imports.Therefore,we recommend a focused examination of VW imports and exports in western region urban agglomerations,cities,and second and third-tier cities within the watershed.Leveraging virtual water’s asymmetric and high-value transfer can alleviate water resource pressure and scarcity risks in high-pressure regions by shifting them to lower-pressure regions,thus mitigating water resource stress across regions.
文摘Under the background of the era of rapid development of the meta-universe,the fusion of virtual and reality in new media art creation has become a key trend.Starting from the concept of meta-universe and new media art,this paper analyzes the connection between the two in depth,elaborates on the manifestation of the fusion of virtual and reality in new media art creation,explores the challenges and problems it faces,and puts forward coping strategies with the aim of providing theoretical support for the development of the creation of new media art under the context of the meta-universe,and promoting the innovation and progress of art creation.
文摘The present paper addresses two issues pertaining to the use of virtual reality(VR).One issue pertains to the equipment utilized.VR technology can be classified into two main categories:Immersive and non-immersive.The immersive type of technology necessitates the use of substantial equipment,yet it is demonstrably efficacious.Furthermore,the efficacy of this approach is enhanced when combined with relaxation and biofeedback techniques.The other issue is that the efficacy of this approach is diminished when applied to chronic pain,in comparison to acute pain.The relief of chronic pain is a challenging endeavor due to the diminished functionality of the medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC)within the default mode network.Given the close relationship between the mPFC and the reward system dopamine,it is essential to develop a program that activates the reward system dopamine through the use of VR technology.
基金supported by“Regional Innovation Strategy(RIS)”through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Education(MOE)(2021RIS-002)the Technology Development Program(RS-2023-00266141)funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups(MSS,Republic of Korea).
文摘Virtual Power Plants(VPPs)are integral to modern energy systems,providing stability and reliability in the face of the inherent complexities and fluctuations of solar power data.Traditional anomaly detection methodologies often need to adequately handle these fluctuations from solar radiation and ambient temperature variations.We introduce the Memory-Enhanced Autoencoder with Adversarial Training(MemAAE)model to overcome these limitations,designed explicitly for robust anomaly detection in VPP environments.The MemAAE model integrates three principal components:an LSTM-based autoencoder that effectively captures temporal dynamics to distinguish between normal and anomalous behaviors,an adversarial training module that enhances system resilience across diverse operational scenarios,and a prediction module that aids the autoencoder during the reconstruction process,thereby facilitating precise anomaly identification.Furthermore,MemAAE features a memory mechanism that stores critical pattern information,mitigating overfitting,alongside a dynamic threshold adjustment mechanism that adapts detection thresholds in response to evolving operational conditions.Our empirical evaluation of the MemAAE model using real-world solar power data shows that the model outperforms other comparative models on both datasets.On the Sopan-Finder dataset,MemAAE has an accuracy of 99.17%and an F1-score of 95.79%,while on the Sunalab Faro PV 2017 dataset,it has an accuracy of 97.67%and an F1-score of 93.27%.Significant performance advantages have been achieved on both datasets.These results show that MemAAE model is an effective method for real-time anomaly detection in virtual power plants(VPPs),which can enhance robustness and adaptability to inherent variables in solar power generation.
基金supported by a project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China:Research on the integration of artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology to promote psychological rehabilitation of breast cancer patients with different personalities(project approval no.82073408).
文摘Objectives:To explore the efficacy and safety of virtual reality(VR)in relieving negative emotions in patients with breast cancer with different personalities.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was conducted.Between April 2023 and October 2023,we enrolled patients with breast cancer treated in the Department of Breast Cancer and Oncology at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangdong Province.The patients were randomly divided into an intervention group(n=118)and a control group(n=119)using block randomization.The intervention group received the VR intervention 3-5 times over 5±2 weeks using natural landscapes with music or relaxation guidance,and the duration of each VR intervention was 15±3 min.The control group received routine nursing care,including disease education and psychological counseling.Patients were assessed using the Type D Scale,Positive and Negative Affect Scale,and Distress Thermometer,and adverse events during the intervention were recorded.Results:Overall,85 patients completed the study(44 in the intervention group and 41 in the control group).Patients with Type D personalities showed more negative emotions[25.0(21.5,27.5)vs.19.0(16.0,24.0),P=0.001]and distressed attitudes[4.0(2.0,5.0)vs.3.0(1.0,4.0),P=0.020]with fewer positive emotions(27.2±5.6 vs.31.0±5.9,P=0.014)than those with non-Type D personalities.Total population analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups.However,in the subgroup analysis,patients with Type D personalities in the intervention group showed greater relief from negative emotions than those in the control group[median difference,-5.0(-9.0,-2.5)vs.-2.0(-4.0,2.0),P=0.046].No significant differences were found between groups of patients with non-Type D personality traits.The proportion of adverse events was not significantly different between groups(P=0.110).Conclusions:Breast cancer patients with Type D personalities suffer more severe negative emotions and distress,and more attention should be paid to them.VR intervention significantly and safely reduced negative emotions in patients with Type D personalities.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Project of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company Chengdu Power Supply Company under Grant No.521904240005.
文摘This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards greater decentralization and renewable integration,traditional optimization methods struggle to address the inherent complexities and uncertainties.Our proposed MARL framework enables adaptive,decentralized decision-making for both the distribution system operator and individual VPPs,optimizing economic efficiency while maintaining grid stability.We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and develop a custom MARL algorithm that leverages actor-critic architectures and experience replay.Extensive simulations across diverse scenarios demonstrate that our approach consistently outperforms baseline methods,including Stackelberg game models and model predictive control,achieving an 18.73%reduction in costs and a 22.46%increase in VPP profits.The MARL framework shows particular strength in scenarios with high renewable energy penetration,where it improves system performance by 11.95%compared with traditional methods.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates superior adaptability to unexpected events and mis-predictions,highlighting its potential for real-world implementation.
基金Supported by Instituto de Salud CarlosⅢ(ISCⅢ),with group funds the Research Network on Chronicity,Primary Care and Health Promotion(RICAPPS,RD21/0016/0005)that is part of the Results-Oriented Cooperative Research Networks in Health(RICORS)(CarlosⅢHealth Institute),co-funded by the European Union“NextGeneration EU/PRTR”funds and with group funds Mental health research group in Primary Care(B17_23R),which is part of the Department of Innovation,Research,and University in the Government of Aragón(Spain).
文摘Current rates of mental illness are worrisome.Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups.The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementation of novel mental health treatments using virtual reality,augmented reality,and artificial intelligence.A new three dimensional digital environment,known as the metaverse,has emerged as the next version of the Internet.Artificial intelligence,augmented reality,and virtual reality will create fully immersive,experiential,and interactive online environments in the metaverse.People will use a unique avatar to do anything they do in their“real”lives,including seeking and receiving mental health care.In this opinion review,we reflect on how the metaverse could reshape how we deliver mental health treatment,its opportunities,and its challenges.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52105079 and 62103455。
文摘This paper proposes a virtual position-offset injection based permanent magnet temperature estimation approach for permanent magnet synchronous machines(PMSMs). The concept of virtual position-offset injection is mathematically transforming the machine model to a virtual frame with a position-offset. The virtual frame temperature estimation model is derived to calculate the permanent magnet temperature(PMT) directly from the measurements with computation efficiency. The estimation model involves a combined inductance term, which can simplify the establishment of saturation compensation model with less measurements. Moreover, resistance and inverter distorted terms are cancelled in the estimation model, which can improve the robustness to the winding temperature rise and inverter distortion. The proposed approach can achieve simplified computation in temperature estimation and reduced memory usage in saturation compensation. While existing model-based approaches could be affected by either the need of resistance and inverter information or complex saturation compensation. Experiments are conducted on the test machine to verify the proposed approach under various operating conditions.
基金Research Fund of Chungnam National University,Chungnam National University,the Ministry of Trade,Industry,and Energy,Korea,under the“Regional industry-based organization support program”,No.P0001940the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology,and a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute,funded by the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea,No.HI20C2088.
文摘BACKGROUND Traditional paper-based preoperative patient education is a struggle for new nurses and requires extensive training.In this situation,virtual reality technology can help the new nurses.Despite its potential benefits,there are studies on patient satisfaction but there is limited information on the usability of virtual reality(VR)technology for new nurses in giving preoperative education to patients.AIM To investigate the impact on satisfaction,usability,and burnout of a system using VR technology in preoperative patient education.METHODS The study involved 20 nurses from the plastic surgery ward and 80 patients admitted between April and May 2019.Each nurse taught four patients:Two using traditional verbal education and two using virtual reality.The System Usability Scale,After-Scenario Questionnaire,and Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI)were employed to evaluate the impact of these education methods.RESULTS The VR education groups showed a statistically higher satisfaction than the traditional verbal education groups.Among the three subscales of the MBI,emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment improved statistically significantly.VR was also better in terms of usability.CONCLUSION This study suggests VR enhances usability and reduces burnout in nurses,but further research is needed to assess its impact on depersonalization and objective measures like stress and heart rate.
