Man Talks to Machine

Anxiety

Why Feeling Invisible Could Be a Key to Feeling Better

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on April 25, 2015

Technology can be used to create the illusion that your body is completely invisible to yourself and others. Experiments show that this reduces social anxiety in stressful social situations. This finding may lead to exciting new treatment strategies.

Technology can be used to create the illusion that your body is completely invisible to yourself and others. Experiments show that this reduces social anxiety in stressful social situations. This finding may lead to exciting new treatment strategies.

Health

What is it Like to Have Schizophrenia?

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on February 18, 2015

Virtual reality takes you into the minds of those who suffer from a mental illness.

Virtual reality takes you into the minds of those who suffer from a mental illness.

Depression

Depression: Is There a Smartphone App for That?

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on December 10, 2014

There is tremendous potential for smartphone apps to enhance mental health treatments in new and exciting ways. However, there is a key limitation.

There is tremendous potential for smartphone apps to enhance mental health treatments in new and exciting ways. However, there is a key limitation.

Addiction

Fighting Addiction with Technology

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on November 3, 2014

New technologies are bringing existing addiction treatment strategies into the 21st century.

New technologies are bringing existing addiction treatment strategies into the 21st century.

Dementia

Diagnosing Dementia by Getting Lost in Virtual Worlds

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on August 27, 2014

Virtual reality technology provides a safe and cost effective way to test for dementia in elderly populations. Users navigate a virtual world while health practitioners monitor for signs of cognitive decline.

Virtual reality technology provides a safe and cost effective way to test for dementia in elderly populations. Users navigate a virtual world while health practitioners monitor for signs of cognitive decline.

Therapy

Why Virtual Humans Make Better Listeners

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on July 16, 2014

A recent study has demonstrated that people are more open and honest when talking to a virtual human than a real one.

A recent study has demonstrated that people are more open and honest when talking to a virtual human than a real one.

Ethics and Morality

Ethical Robots and Brain Implants for Mental Illness

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on July 5, 2014

Two recent grants provide funding for research into robot ethics and brain implants for the with mentally ill. These are both projects with exciting potential, but are not without opportunities for misuse.

Two recent grants provide funding for research into robot ethics and brain implants for the with mentally ill. These are both projects with exciting potential, but are not without opportunities for misuse.

Therapy

Do Humans Make Bad Therapists?

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on June 1, 2014

In the second part of a two part series, we conclude our comparison between computerized therapy and traditional face-to-face therapy. Who comes out on top?

In the second part of a two part series, we conclude our comparison between computerized therapy and traditional face-to-face therapy. Who comes out on top?

Artificial Intelligence

Man vs Machine: The Ultimate Therapist Showdown Part 1

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on May 6, 2014

Computerized therapy is becoming an increasingly popular and effective alternative to the traditional patient-therapist treatment model. In this two part series we will assess how these programs stack up against their human counterparts.

Computerized therapy is becoming an increasingly popular and effective alternative to the traditional patient-therapist treatment model. In this two part series we will assess how these programs stack up against their human counterparts.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Therapy

Fjola Helgadottir Ph.D. on April 8, 2014

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to sophisticated computerized therapy systems in the coming years. These programs have the potential to revolutionize mental health treatment, but they do not need to simulate human intelligence in order to be effective.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to sophisticated computerized therapy systems in the coming years. These programs have the potential to revolutionize mental health treatment, but they do not need to simulate human intelligence in order to be effective.