Virtual reality headset that could help rid you of vertigo

PEOPLE with a severe fear of heights could be cured of their phobia using virtual reality developed by UK scientists.

Fear of heights is a significant problem for one in five people at some point in their lives.

A paper published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal by researchers at Oxford University found the new treatment reduced fear by an average of 68 per cent.

The technology, which exposes people to heights of up to ten storeys through a virtual reality headset, was tested on 100 people.

Study leader Professor Daniel Freeman said: ‘The tasks the participants were asked to complete included crossing a rickety walkway, rescuing a cat from a tree in the building’s atrium, playing a xylophone on the edge of a balcony and finally riding a virtual whale around the atrium space.

‘We were confident the treatment would prove effective, but the outcomes exceeded our expectations.’

One participant said: ‘I’m noticing that when I’m doing the VR and in the real world I’m able to say hello to the edge instead of backing up.’