For severe burn victims, including at least a few from the military, clinical trials are underway for a new treatment process. Snow World is a virtual reality system that lets users walk through wintry environments and lob snowballs at stationary targets. The cool imagery and immersive gameplay are proving in early tests to be a viable alternative to strong drugs that leave patients dazed and disconnected, reports ScienceCentral. Patients report feeling less pain, fMRI scans show a reduction in actual brain signals, and doctors anecdotally noted a wider range of movement from patients in physical therapy sessions. (via “Snow World” Virtual Reality Used to Treat Burn Patients | Engage Digital)
