Out-of-Body Experience In XR

Open Human-Computer Interaction Computer Science Games Engineering Bachelor Master Project Thesis No Affiliation

OutME: Out-of-Body Experience Induction in XR

Out-of-Body (OBE) Experience

• Seems to be awake
• and to see his body and the world
• from a location outside the physical body
• [Blanket et al. 2016] [Ehrsson et al 2007, Lenggenhager et al 2007]

Observation

• Life Changing

Objective

• Inducing OBE in XR

Motivations

• OBE Simulation in VR Effects and Usages - Video Source

New Method for XR Psychotherapy

1. ↓ Fear of Death
2. ↑ Self-Awareness & Reflection
3. ↑ Empathy (Innovative Perspective Change)
4. ↑ Gratitute (Appreciation for one’s own existence)
5. ↑ Cognitive Function (Creativity)
6. ↑ Positive Mood Change

Escaping VR in VR!

• Take a Break from
• A (Stressful) VR therapy
• While staying in VR
• Public-speaking training, agoraphobia, acrophobia,…

But Can

• ↑ Fear and Anxiety
• ↑ Depersonalization
• ↑ Derealization
• …

Challenges

Observation

OBE in XR needs 2 Phases:

1. Avatar Embodiment
2. Avatar Disembodiment

Problem

• Disembodiment?!
  • Induction Techniques?
    • Example 1
    • Example 2 [Bourdin et al, 2017]
  • Measurements?
  • Positive/Negative Effects?
  • VR vs Mixed Reality?

Task and Scope Overview

Main Tasks

OBE in XR Demo Scene

• Short Experience
• Medium-High OBE Effect
• Simple Scene/Scenario
• Short Evaluation

Build on Top of an Existing Project

• Starting point provided
• Unreal Engine Project
• with Avatar Embodiment & Disembodiment Techniques

Prerequisites

• Interactive Graphics
• 3DUI
• Game-Engine & XR (Unreal)

References

Blanke, Olaf, Nathan Faivre, and Sebastian Dieguez. 2016. “Leaving Body and Life Behind: Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experience.” In The Neurology of Conciousness, 323–47. Elsevier.

Bourdin, Pierre, Itxaso Barberia, Ramon Oliva, and Mel Slater. 2017. “A Virtual Out-of-Body Experience Reduces Fear of Death.” PloS One 12 (1). Public Library of Science San Francisco, CA USA: e0169343.

Ehrsson, H Henrik. 2007. “The Experimental Induction of Out-of-Body Experiences.” Science 317 (5841). American Association for the Advancement of Science: 1048–48. doi:10.1126/science.1142175.

Lenggenhager, Bigna, Tej Tadi, Thomas Metzinger, and Olaf Blanke. 2007. “Video Ergo Sum: Manipulating Bodily Self-Consciousness.” Science 317 (5841). American Association for the Advancement of Science: 1096–99

Contact Persons at the University Würzburg