Original link can be found here

Brussels, Belgium (June 11, 2013) – The Virtual Reality Medical Institute (VRMI) was selected to participate in the recent Belgian Economic Mission to the United States, organized by the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency in collaboration with the regional institutions Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency, Brussels Invest & Export and Flanders Investment & Trade and FPS Foreign Affairs.  The event, held from June 2 to June 9, 2013,was presided over by Prince Philippe of Belgium, and consisted of 393 participants, bringing together companies from various business sectors to expand their influence to the U.S. and promote trade between Belgium and the U.S.

Virtual Reality Medical Institute (VRMI) uses simulation technologies in three main areas: 1) treating patients with stress, anxiety, and trauma, 2) training for military medical and civilian populations, and 3) enhancing medical educational programs. A Belgian corporation established in December 2006 with affiliates in the U.S. and China, VRMI principals are world leaders in applying VR technology in combination with physiological monitoring and feedback for training, therapy, and emerging applications. We are also focused on developing a comprehensive protocol to address an array of needs for military personnel and civilian first responders as well as emerging technologies for various security and intelligence operations. Having been involved in R&D projects in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. for the past 25 years, we have won over 50 competitive government contracts and look now towards marketing the developed products and protocols.

Representing VRMI on the mission were Prof. Dr. Brenda Wiederhold, President, and Prof. Dr. Mark Wiederhold, Director of Clinical Research.

Interstress is using advanced ICT-based solutions to assess and treat psychological stress. Through the use of easy-to-use, low-cost sensors worn by the users, the application allows to monitor the heartbeat, respiration, sweat and other physical indications of stress. The patient is then conducted through relaxation exercises, scenes and sounds in a virtual beach, forest, mountain or tropical environment, in order to lower his stress levels. 

Press Release Here.

Technical University Kaiserslautern

This year's opening speaker will be Robert Madelin, Director General of DG CONNECT. In addition, we will have a panel devoted to games for health and healthcare mobile applications. CYBER18 will continue to build upon its 18-year legacy, which includes the 2012 conference which took place at the European Commission. Locating this year’s conference in Europe’s capital provides a unique opportunity to raise the conference’s visibility and highlight the importance of utilizing technology in healthcare.

In this venue, researchers will have a unique opportunity to disseminate their FP7 funded research technologies to a large audience. A special event called the “Cyberarium” allows show-and-tell presentations of new research, which are open to the press and feature demonstrations on how VR and other advanced technology products are being applied for health and well-being. Interested media representatives or institutions interested in participating in the Cyberarium should contact Chelsie Boyd at cybertherapy@vrphobia.com.

In addition to the panel, CYBER18 will also focus on:

1. The Impact of Technologies as Tools

CYBER18 will continue its examination of the exciting applications of advanced technologies being used in training, therapy, rehabilitation, and education for the improvement of the quality and availability of healthcare for people around the globe.

2. The Influence of New Technologies

CYBER18 will further its investigation into how new technologies are influencing behavior and society through the use of positive technology, healthy ageing and well-being. This year will have a special emphasis on mobile healthcare applications.

3. The Imprint of Social Networking

CYBER18 will embrace, as it did in 2012, the exploration of how social networking tools are changing individual behavior, interpersonal relationships, and society. 

4. The Introduction of New Technologies and New Terms

CYBER18 will study the psychological aspects of new areas influenced by technology such as cyberfashion, cyberadvertising and cyberstalking.

For more information, please visit our website.

The Innovation Convention exhibition will showcase exciting research and innovation results being developed under European funding programmes.

The Innovation Convention 2011 will be led by the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation, and Science.

It will be Europe's premier innovation event, with over 1200 selected participants.

The Innovation Union aims to improve conditions and access to finance for research and innovation in Europe, to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and jobs.

The convention will be a great opportunity for INTERSTRESS to raise visibility of the project and get the attention of stakeholders and private investors.

The Italian Minister for Education, Universities, and Research Francesco Profumo visits the INTERSTRESS exhibition at the Innovation

Click here to visit to the official Innovation Convention webpage.

INTERSTRESS showcased at the

16^th Annual CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Conference

Members of the INTERSTRESS (Interreality in the Management and Treatment of Stress-related Disorders) project, funded under the European Commission’s FP7 Program, presented their work to an international audience at the recent 16th Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference: Evidence-Based Clinical Application of Information Technology (CYBER¹⁶), held June 19-22, 2011 in Gatineau, Canada.

CYBER¹⁶, the official conference of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACToR), attracted 200 participants from industry, academia and government from 25 countries:   Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the U.S.   As in previous years, CYBER¹⁶ continued its two-fold focus, exploring:

1. Technologies as enabling tools

2. The impact of new technologies on individual behavior and societal relations

The conference featured presentations on research utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as avatars, videogame virtual reality, non-invasive physiological monitoring, wireless technologies, and robotics for training, education, and therapeutic purposes.  However, there was also an exciting influx of researchers investigating the uses and effects of social networking tools.  This is a focus we look to embrace more in coming years.

CYBER¹⁷ will be held September 12-15, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium.   The conference will continue to explore the uses of advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality, videogames, telehealth, the internet, robotics, brain computer interfaces, wearable computing, mobile computing, social networking, and non-invasive physiological monitoring devices, in the diagnosis, assessment, and prevention of mental and physical disorders as well as assessment of interactive media in training, education, rehabilitation, and therapeutic interventions.  However, CYBER¹⁷ will also strengthen its focus on the effects of interactive media and social networking tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, on individual behavior and interpersonal relationships.

Members of the INTERSTRESS team:  B.K. Wiederhold, D. Pizzioli, A. Gaggioli, G. Riva at the CYBER¹⁶ conference.

For additional information, please visit http://www.interactivemediainstitute.com and http://www.INTERSTRESS.eu.