Integration of embedded technologies controlled by Artificial Intelligence: an application to support the treatment of phobias

• Claudio H. M. Jambo UERJ
• Rosa Maria E. Moreira da Costa UERJ

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbcas_estendido.2024.2248

Abstract

In recent years, the health area has received technological contributions that provide support for diagnostic practices, monitoring and treatment of different disorders and diseases, mainly combining various techniques of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Mobile Computing. There are many challenges to integrate these technologies and provide solutions that consider the automation of processes, the simplification of interaction between professionals and patients, the low price of equipment, the individualization of use, mobility and the use of Artificial Intelligence strategies. Aiming to overcome limitations of two previous works, which applied technological combinations in the desensitization of stress and phobias, this work aims to develop a technological combination that integrates an autonomous and low-cost virtual environment embedded in an ESP32 board, with multi-agent control, with support for natural language communication, to be used in the Treatment by Exposure in Virtual Environments VRET in the area of Clinical Psychology, more specifically related to Anxiety Disorders. Low-cost virtual reality glasses were used, with visualization on a smartphone. The prototype, called PhobIA 3DS, is controlled by multi-agents that have modules for capturing physiological signals (heart rate); uses natural language to obtain the level of anxiety perceived by the patient; considers these two pieces of information in a Fuzzy module, which, in turn, generates a response on the calculated level of anxiety; and controls and changes the display of specific scenarios for each level of anxiety. Finally, the system was evaluated by a group of experienced professionals, to verify aspects of the interface, relevance and usability. The data obtained by the evaluation showed positive results and good prospects for using the system in real activities.

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