医療現場において同じ病気を経験する患者さん同士で悩みや不安を共有し、その後の人生を前向きに送る知恵や情報を共有しながらお互いに支え合う「ピアサポート」が特にがん患者さんを中心に広がっています。
通常は患者会や医療機関による会合が中心でありましたが、昨今の新型コロナウィルス感染症の蔓延により対面機会を設けることが困難となったため、SNSやチャットなどインターネット上での機会が増えてきています。

しかしSNSやチャットなどでは対面型に比べて患者さん同士の交流が希薄になりがちで、またヨガや体操などの体験型プログラムは実施できず物足りなさを指摘する声も聞かれます。
そこでVR技術を駆使することで、遠隔的な参加でありながら、あたかも対面しているかのような錯覚を与えつつ匿名性を担保した交流を可能とし、さらに運動体験まで可能な仮想空間の開発を進めています。

About the System

The "VR Cancer Peer Support" has two main functions.
1) A function that allows users to interact with remote people (experiment contributors) through conversation and hand movements.
2) A function that allows users to perform fitness (upper limb exercise) in a virtual space (3D CG).

SINCE BOTH FUNCTIONS CAN BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE SAME VIRTUAL SPACE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO COMBINE 1) AND 2) AND "SHARE CONVERSATION AND HAND MOVEMENTS WHILE PERFORMING FITNESS". THE FITNESS PROGRAM CHANGES ON A DAILY BASIS, WITH "STRETCHING," "BOXERCISE," AND "CORE" EXERCISES AVAILABLE, AND A 3D CG SPACE IS PROVIDED FOR EACH FITNESS PROGRAM. THE TRAINER'S MODEL EXERCISES DISPLAYED DURING FITNESS SESSIONS ARE BASED ON MOVEMENTS MEASURED BY MOTION TRACKING AND DISPLAYED IN A 3D CG SPACE.

Conducting a demonstration experiment for cancer patients

With the cooperation of Associate Professor Masahiko Sumitani, Director of the Department of Palliative Care at the University of Tokyo Hospital, who has supervised the development of the product since its inception, we have decided to launch a demonstration experiment at the University of Tokyo Hospital to verify its effectiveness.

実証実験の実施にあたり同病院受診中のがん患者さん数名にご参加いただき、参加者にはHMD（ヘッドマウントディスプレイ）を貸与して自宅へ持ち帰っていただき、仮想空間内で用意された運動プログラムへの参加と、参加者同士の交流機会への参加を求めていき、実験前との変化について検証しました。

Future Development

Based on the verification results of the demonstration experiment, we will further develop the implementation of functions more suited to the needs of patients and aim for practical use. In the future, we plan to use this initiative for cancer patients as a role model to be applied to other diseases and injuries, as well as to the area of care prevention for senior citizens.

In addition to the above research and development, we are also focusing on the development of an "online self-fitness system" to promote the habit of exercising at home, especially among seniors, and will continue to do so in order to help maintain and promote the health of as many people as possible in these days of aging.

Comments from Associate Professor Masahiko Sumitani, Director, Department of Palliative Care, The University of Tokyo Hospital

The number of patients suffering from cancer (cancer) is increasing every year in Western developed countries, including Japan, and one out of every two people in Japan will experience cancer. Although medical advances have improved the outcome of cancer treatment itself, the various anxieties and difficulties in daily life caused by having cancer cannot always be resolved by medical professionals at hospitals and clinics alone. Furthermore, even patients who have successfully completed their cancer treatment often experience lingering physical discomfort and anxiety.

As specialists in palliative care and supportive care, we are in charge of treating various problems that patients may have, and we collaborate with oncologists to ensure that each patient can continue optimal cancer treatment without difficulty. We also provide therapeutic intervention for patients after their cancer treatment has been completed.
In addition to this type of medical treatment, peer support (counseling by cancer survivors), in which cancer patients support each other, has been spreading as a way to help patients with cancer-related problems that cannot be filled by medical treatment. Although many peer support activities have been spreading in Japan, it is not uncommon to hear comments from patients that they are too far away to go to a peer support center, that they are embarrassed to directly communicate with other patients, or that they would like to take a look at the center first.
We have therefore jointly developed a virtual reality (VR) cancer peer support system that enables cancer patients to participate in peer support activities at a place of their choice without physical distance. The use of avatars (human model dolls) also allows for lively communication even indirectly, without the embarrassment of face-to-face interaction.

IN ADDITION, WE OFFER A "FITNESS" PROGRAM TO CANCER PATIENTS THROUGH VR CANCER PEER SUPPORT. IT IS KNOWN THAT DAILY EXERCISE HABITS CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER ONSET AND RECURRENCE, AS WELL AS THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER TREATMENT. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT "I KNOW EXERCISE IS GOOD, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MOTIVATION TO START" OR "I STARTED, BUT I WAS A 3-DAY MONK. AS A SPECIALIST IN PALLIATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR CANCER, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO ENCOURAGE CANCER PATIENTS TO EXERCISE EVERY DAY, EVEN IF ONLY A LITTLE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY THROUGH VR CANCER PEER SUPPORT.

We encourage patients to engage in health management that they can do on their own to lead a full and vigorous life while living with cancer and even after graduating from cancer treatment.

partner company

Gleam Bridge Corporation (business planning)
Universal Training Center Corporation (exercise menu supervision and motion act)