XR Hub 21 May: VR applications for aphasia, at the dentist’s, and handling radioactive sources in the lab

How can the use of virtual reality contribute to scientific research? Scientists discuss the use of VR in their research. Following the plenary session, there will be demonstrations of the projects discussed in the XR lab.

Location and time

• The XR-HUB will take place at the Smitsborg,  Nettelbosje 1, Groningen.
• The meeting starts at 10.30 am and lasts until 12 noon.
• After the plenary session, there will be demos of the discussed projects in the XR lab. The plenary session can also be followed via a stream (link to follow).

Language: English

Sign up

You can sign up by sending an email to realitycenter rug.nl .

Programme

> Welcome and introduction

> Meedoen met Afasie in de Praktijk (MAP) | Frank Schroër and Rimke Groenewold (UMCG)
MAP is a research project aimed at enhancing participation of people with aphasia by connecting speech and language therapy to meaningful everyday communication contexts. A key innovation of the project is the development of a VR application specifically designed for people with aphasia. Within immersive, realistic 180° environments, clients can practice everyday communication situations under the guidance of their speech and language therapist. The VR application enables safe, repeatable, and context-rich practice, which supports the transfer from therapy to daily life. The project investigates how this technology contributes to participation-focused therapy and evidence-informed clinical practice.

> Radiation app – Aleksandra Biegun (FSE)
Radioactivity is invisible and not directly perceptible, making radiation safety challenging for students in undergraduate physics laboratories. Despite prior theoretical and practical instruction, safety protocols are not always consistently followed. To enhance students’ understanding of radiation and its associated risks, an engaging Virtual Reality environment, the “Virtual Radiation Lab”, has been developed. The platform allows students to practice safe handling of radioactive sources, distance effects, and shielding properties in real time. Integrated prior to hands-on experiments, the VR experience aims to strengthen conceptual understanding, enhance risk awareness, and promote responsible laboratory behaviour in physics and applied physics courses.

> EHBO for Dentists app | Denise Diermen (ACTA/UMCG)
DentEmergencyVR is an immersive, interactive virtual dental practice designed to enable dental students to practise managing acute medical situations. Dentists must be able to recognise and manage acute medical situations, such as fainting or a heart attack, until medical assistance arrives. At the Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), Master’s students in Dentistry undertake a course in which this is practised and assessed using actors. To give students more opportunity to practise the various situations, ACTA has developed a VR game which was successfully used in teaching for the first time in October 2025.
The game was created by the CIT’s Visualisation team and developed in consultation with the dentistry programmes in Groningen and Nijmegen.