International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
Virtual Reality against Addiction
Sarthak Gupta
IEC College of Engineering and Technology,
Greater Noida,India
Sarthakwork05@gmail.com
91-9990970645
Abstract—Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-simulated
environment that is used to simulate physical presence of the
user in the real world or imagined worlds Virtual reality can
create experiences, which include virtual taste, sight, smell,
sound and touch. The result of these is shown on the screen or
with the help of the head set with sound system to provide
additional sensory information. Gaming applications are
created to understand the capability of the person in different
situations. In this paper we are getting focused on the
application of the virtual reality in the medical field. The
addiction of the nicotine and drugs are making people weak.
To reduce this problem, the addiction is treated by both
conscious and subconscious mind to remove its root cause.
Keywords: Addiction, Craving, Virtual Reality, Medical Field,
Training applications.
I INTRODUCTION
The advancement of the machinery leads to increase the
vision of the humans. The machine which once used to
compute the arithmetical calculations had gradually
advanced to let the people feel the imaginary world in true
senses. The virtual reality is the concept to let the user feel
the imaginary world comes true. To provide the sensory
information to the user there is use of sound systems and the
display is through stereographic displays.
A. Virtual Reality
1) “Virtual reality refers to immersive, interactive, multi-
sensory, and viewer-cantered, three dimensional
computer generated environments and the combination
of technologies required to build these environments.”
[2]
2) “The illusion of participation in a synthetic environment
rather than external observation of such an
environment. VR relies on a three-dimensional,
stereoscopic head-tracker display, hand/body tracking
and binaural sound. VR is an immersive, multi-sensory
experience.” [3]
3) “Real-time interactive graphics with three dimensional
models, combined with a display technology that gives
the user the immersion in the model world and direct
manipulation.” [5]
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Banita Chadha
A.P (IEC College of Engineering and Technology)
Greater Noida,India
Banit23@yahoo.com
91-8750745666
4) “Computer simulations that use 3D graphics and
devices such as the Data Glove to allow the user to
interact with the simulation.” [6]
5) “Virtual reality lets you navigate and view a world of
three dimensions in real time, with six degree of
freedom. (...) In essence, virtual reality is clone of
physical reality.” [7]
B. Survey(VR): [1,2,3,4]
1) Sensorama– in years 1960-1962 Morton Heilig created
a multi-sensory simulator. A pre-recorded film in color
and stereo wasaugmented by binaural sound, scent,
wind and vibration experiences. This was the first
approach to create a virtual reality system and it had all
the features of such an environment, but it was not
interactive.
2) The Ultimate Display– in 1965 Ivan Sutherland
proposed the ultimate solution of virtual reality: an
artificial world construction concept that included
interactive graphics, force-feedback, sound, smell and
taste.
a) “The Sword of Damocles”– the first virtual reality
system realized in hardware, not in concept. Ivan
Sutherland constructs a device considered as the
first Head Mounted Display (HMD), with
appropriate head tracking. It supported a stereo view
that was updated correctly according to the user’s
head position and orientation.
b) GROPE– the first prototype of a force-feedback
system realized at the University of North Carolina
(UNC) in 1971.
c) VIDEOPLACE– Artificial Reality created in 1975
by Myron Krueger – “a conceptual environment,
with no existence”. In this system the silhouettes of
the users grabbed by the cameras were projected on
a large screen. The participants were able to interact
one with the other thanks to the image processing
techniques that determined their positions in 2D
screen’s space.
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 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
d) VCASS– Thomas Furness at the US Air Force’s
Armstrong Medical Research Laboratories
developed in 1982 the Visually Coupled Airborne
Systems Simulator – an advanced flight simulator.
The fighter pilot wore a HMD that augmented the
out-the window view by the graphics describing
targeting or optimal flight path information.
e) VIVED– Virtual Visual Environment Display –
constructed at the NASA Ames in 1984 with off
the-shelf technology a stereoscopic monochrome
HMD.
f) VPL– the VPL company manufactures the popular
Data Glove (1985) and the Eye phone HMD (1988)
– the first commercially available VR devices.
g) BOOM– commercialized in 1989 by the Fake Space
Labs. BOOM is a small box containing two CRT
monitors that can be viewed through the eye holes.
The user can grab the box, keep it by the eyes and
move through the virtual world, as the mechanical
arm measures the position and orientation of the
box.
h) UNC Walkthrough project– in the second half of
1980s at the University of North Carolina an
architectural walkthrough application was
developed. Several VR devices were constructed to
improve the quality of this system like: HMDs,
optical trackers and the Pixel-Plane graphics engine.
i) Virtual Wind Tunnel– developed in early 1990s at
the NASA Ames application that allowed the
observation and investigation of flow-fields with the
help of BOOM and Data Glove
Augmented Reality (AR) – a technology that “presents a virtual
world that enriches, rather than replaces the real world”
[Brys92c]. This is achieved by means of see through HMD that
superimposes virtual three-dimensional objects on real ones.
This technology was previously used to enrich fighter pilot’s
view with additional flight information (VCASS). Thanks to its
great potential – the enhancement of human vision –
augmented reality became a focus of many research projects in
early 1990s
C. Types of VR
1) Windows on world system.
2) Hands on virtual world
3) Head tracking system
4) Immersive systems
5) Telepresence
1) Windows on world system: Use of the screen to display
the video and the audio information is given by the
speakers which add a reality touch to the experience.
The special input devices are used to let the user give
inputs in the form of interactions and the reactions by
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them. This technic is used in the field of medicals as
VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY.
2) Hands on virtual world: In this we create a virtual
world where the user enters .The tracking of the
movement of head is done so as to understand what the
thoughts of the user are. Interaction with the image is
done through general purpose haptic devices.
3) Head tracking system: In this kind of system there is a
simple stereo device though which the user is shown
scenes. There is only one correct position to view the
scene.
4) Immersivesystem: The devices used here are the Head
Mounted Displays (HMD). These are the devices which
users can wear and give a real life experience which
gives virtual reality its meaning. This provides an
immense experience by blocking out from the real
world and getting completely into the imaginary or the
virtual world. There is no restriction for the user on
their movements. This provides a good 3-D visual
quality and is inexpensive.
5) Telepresence: Sensors and Manipulators are the devices
with are remotely controlled by human operators. The
major applications for this kind of systems are the fire
fighter robots, the unmanned military vehicles used for
wars. The exploration of the titanic was done by such
kinds of techniques.
D. Applications
There are several applications of Virtual Reality which has
now changed the phase of Technology .In the field of Games,
theatre, construction, training, Psychological Therapy. The
following are the applications of VRs:
1) Games: Bio-sensing is way used to detect the presence
of users in the game. These are the small sensors which
are attached to different body parts so as to record the
movements of the person in the 3D space. These
movements are interpreted by a computer and trigger a
several responses within that space.
2) Theatre: 5-D theatre gives a physical touch to the
theatre experience but the Virtual Reality when used
with the theatres puts the user right into the character
and that user can feel the complete situation happening
with them.
3) Construction: The architects need not prepare the model
of the house. The blue prints can now be easily
understood by the customers. An interactive way in
which the customer can now see the rooms they want to
get designed. They may get things changed according to
the need.
4) Training: A virtual Environment is created for the
training of many different programs such as Military
Training, Space programs training, Medical Trainings.
 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
Military persons complete their training in the same
environment as there is in the wars and get training,
accordingly .Similarly the medical specialists get
trained in such an environment so that they can get
trained for the complex surgeries without any real life
specimen.
5) Researchers and clinicians can now use virtual reality
exposure for educational, research, and therapeutic
purposes. The virtual reality technology is similar to a
video game and it simulates a real-world experience
[11].People who suffers from addiction (product
addiction or behavioral addiction) reacts to stimuli
associated to their addiction (e.g. a drug addict will
react to needles/cigarettes).
a) This methodology is called cue reactivity, often
used to expose users to their addiction
product/stimuli in order to measure their craving
level, physiology, and mood states at the moment of
exposure. Craving is an intense desire to consume a
product or to exhibit certain behavior. Presenting the
patient different with addiction products allows the
therapist to note which items serve as triggers
(stimuli that tempt the person to recommence his or
her addictive behavior).[12]
6) Psychological Therapy: There are several phobias can
be triggered by visual and auditory stimuli .These are
cured by introducing the person to the virtual
environment and gradually making them used to of their
fears.
E. Virtual Reality Systems
The virtual reality systems can be divided on the basis of the
environment in they want to be. They are categorized into two
major categories social vs. non-social and creative vs. non-
creative [8] The Non-Social Virtual realities let a single user to
interact with the environment.
This interaction may be with a pre-programmed environment
(known as non-creative systems) or with an environment that
can be modified according to the need to the user (known as
the creative systems).The Social Virtual realities let multiple
users to interact with each other in the environment. This
environment can also be of two types the pre-programmed
environment (known as non-creative system) or with an
environment that can be modified by the users or group of
cooperating users (known as creative systems)
Fig1. Four types of Virtual Reality Systems (from[8])
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F. Virtual Reality therapy to cure depression
The virtual reality Therapy works in coordination with both
conscious and subconscious mind to create new neurological
pathways. This means that instead of getting focused on curing
the symptoms we permanently remove the negative habits and
behaviors. Depression is feeling of dejection which is caused
by the negative thoughts which affects the brain. The Virtual
reality Therapy modules are change the negative thoughts at
the subconscious level and replace them with positive thoughts.
This is a drug free option of anxiety therapy. The way we think
defines our responses to stress, anxiety, panic and dealing with
depression. Negative belief systems lead to reduced pain
tolerance, slower recovery time, panic, anxiety, and depression.
During Virtual Reality Therapy, Thoughts are focused on one
single concept or idea. Concentration of the mind is withdrawn
from the real world to the virtual or the imaginary world. The
people are provided with pre-sleep suggestions have
significantly higher levels of positive emotions in their dreams.
The dreams are more pleasant, and they have lower levels of
anxiety, sadness and aggression.
II ROOT CAUSE
A. Cigarettes:
The major ingredient of the cigarette is the tobacco. Tobacco
contains a mood altering drug called nicotine which makes the
cigarette addictive .It reaches the brain in mere seconds. It is a
central nervous system stimulant. The nicotine imitates or acts
similar to the natural neurotransmitter called Acetylcholine and
it binds itself to a specialized type of acetylcholine receptor,
known as the Nicotine Receptor. The dependency of the
tobacco develops because the nicotinic receptors present on the
neurons of the ventral tegmental area which project their
terminations into nucleus accumbens. In smokers, repeated
nicotine stimulation increases the amount of dopamine released
into the nucleus accumbens. There is enough concentration of
nicotine to deactivate the receptors and slow down their
recovery.
After the short period without smoking, the minimum
concentration of nicotine drops again where some of the
receptors regain their sensitivity. When all these receptors
regain their functionality again, cholinergic neurotransmission
is raised to an abnormally high level that affects all the
cholinergic pathways in the brain. Due to this the smokers
experience craving and discomfort that leads them to smoke
another again.
B. Marijuana:
It is a combination of shredded leaves, stems and flower buds
of Cannabis sativa plant. It is mostly consumed by smoking
.The major intoxicating chemical in marijuana is
tetrahydracannabinol or THC. Depending on the quantity,
quality and method of consumption, marijuana produces a
feeling of euphoria or high. This happens by stimulating brain
cells to release the chemical Dopamine. The following are the
immediate effects when marijuana is smoked or inhaled:
 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
1) The feeling of euphoria is almost. chemical messenger. It affects the brain processes that
control movement, emotional response, ability to
2) The feeling of heightened sensory perception.
experience pain and pleasure. Neurons that contain
3) Colors appearing more intense. Dopamine as a neurotransmitter are clustered in the
midbrain in an area called as substantianigra.
4) Noises being louder.
5) Altered perception of time.
D. Addiction: It’s is states in which there is a forceful
6) Lag of time in the feeling of situation and the response engagement of the rewarding stimuli, although there as
by the brain. adverse consequences. The two properties that
7) Increase in the appetite known as the “munchies” is one characterizes all addiction are:
of the common effects on the consumers. 1) Positive reinforcing: Increase in likelihood so
that person will consume it again and again.
8) Hallucinations.
2) Intrinsically rewarding: Activation of the brain’s
9) Increased Heart rate. Rewarded Pathways. This produces a desire to consume
10) Troubled Concentration. it.

The impact of marijuana depends on the strength of the drug E. Symptoms of addiction to nicotine:
and how often it has been consumed.
1) You smoke more than seven cigarettes a day.
The major parts of the brain which gets affected by marijuana
are: 2) The time duration after which the person smokes after
waking up.
1) Hypothalamus: controls appetite and sensual behavior.
3) You smoke even when you are sick.
2) Basal Ganglia: Involved in control and planning, as
well as the initialization and the termination of the
action.
3) Amygdala: Responsible for an emotion, emotional
behavior and motivation
4) Brain Stem and Spinal Cord: Important in the vomiting
reflex and the sensation of pain.
5) Cerebellum: Responsible to body control and
coordination

Fig3. Marijuana Effects on the Brain [10]

III IMPLEMENTATION
The basic idea of this paper is to reduce the addiction of the
users from cigarettes, marijuana or any other addictive source.
The addiction of these substances is not physical but
psychological. The base reason for most of the people smoking
cigarettes is stress. To release stress people smoke. This gives
Fig2. Cigarette and Marijuana use by 12th grade student [9] relaxation to them psychologically, but just for some time and
these crave restarts as soon as they get a new reason to get
stressed.
C. Dopamine: One of the neurotransmitter which is playing It is the thinking of the person that they would not be able
the major role in the field of addiction is Dopamine. to take so much stress if they are not consuming them. Thus
Dopamine is chemically known as making users addicted. The main aim of virtual reality was to
Dihydroxyphenethylamine. It is similar to adrenaline as a give the people a real life experience of the virtual
environment. Users live there; feel the environment as if they

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 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
are in the real world. With the help of the Head Mounted
Display in the immersive systems they are able to get a clear
view of the virtual world they want to be in.
With the help of speakers, the virtual tastes and touch-
devices gives extra information which makes the sensory
information more accurate. The 3-Dimensional environment,
gives us the vision that the environment shown on the screen
are near us. The 5-Dimensional environment provides the
sensory information of touch. But the virtual environment
places the person right into that condition as if they are passing
through that condition. There is property of sound, taste, vision,
smell which the brain feels while it is in that environment.
In this paper we are going to use the Virtual Reality as a
most important tool to fight with addiction psychologically.
With virtual reality we are producing a virtual environment
which looks similar to the environment in which the user is
comfortable. That environment is a multi-user environment in
which many people connected in a network can interact.
Within that environment the users may smoke cigarettes, can
enjoy special effects of weed with their friends but
psychologically not physically. In this way the people will not
get affected by the after effects of these materials. Their
internal craving which is due to their addiction can gradually
decrease. There are 3 major stages of this program:
• Stage One (Initialization): It is the initialization of the
program in which the users gradually get familiar to the
system. The user gets completely comfortable and starts
feeling similar to the real world there. This gives
indication for the completion of the stage One.
• Stage Two: In the second stage the users get to interact
which each other which create a real life experience as
if they are smoking in real world. They can party
together, can sit and release their stress.
• Stage Three (Termination): In the third and the last
stage the users are forced to feel the side effects of their
addiction. The symptoms long breathe, shaky hands,
sweating, irritability or rapid heart rate.
The user enjoys the environment and in this way they are
addicted to smoking yet but just in the virtual world where
there is no harm to their real life body. Gradually when the
users gets addicted to that system, the system now shows the
drawback of the smoking by making the user feel
uncomfortable and long breathe, sweating, irritability and
increase in heart rate .
This will make the user understand the future
consequences. They could see the pain which will actually be
experienced by them in future. Thus the user themselves will
leave this addictive material.
Passive Smokers are the people who are in the surrounding
of the people smoking. They are equally harmed by the
nicotine as the exhaled smoke by the users also contains the
harmful ingredients. Although the person sitting next to the
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user is not smoking yet there is equal effect on its body. Most
of the passive smokers gradually become active smokers.
Therefore this system prevents the passive smokers to get
active .It also saves the body of the user to get adverse smoking
effects and gradually helps them to reduce their addiction
IV CONCLUSION
According to this paper the fear is the major characteristic
which will let the people reduce their addiction. In real life
people leave an addiction when they could see the pain and the
stress which is caused to them through that addiction. This is
the phenomenon which will be used and with the help of it we
will let the users experience the pain and stress virtually. This
will not make any physical harm but will make the users
understand what is going to happen in the future.
They may get awaken from the vision of the pain caused to
them and leave the addiction without forcing them to do so.
According to [13] the Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC)
is under the associated with National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA) so as to produce a game which interacts with the
adolescents. In this game teens are trained with the help of the
scenarios containing smoking cues.
With the help of these training scenarios the teens will learn
how to control their urge to smoke and overcome them.
Trainings are good solutions but they are not reliable. Only
those users who know that they should leave cigarette will join
this training. So a large amount of people will not yet be
affected with this training. But in the case of this paper each
and every person who smokes will enjoy at first and when they
get familiar with the environment and get used to of these ,
they gradually get the vision of the side effects.
These will affect them psychologically. The fear to get
harmed will let the people away from their addiction. In this
way everyone who is used to of cigarettes will be force to
think. This will be more effective and inexpensive.
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 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA2015)
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