Projects

The project "Il Piccolo Principe", designed for the Paediatric Department of the 'Vito Fazzi' Hospital in Lecce (Italy), aims to implement distress reduction before and during hospitalization through the use of eXtended Reality applications. Based on multidisciplinary research, a set of tools has been developed to enhance the physical and psychological well-being of hospitalized children. This led to the creation of: a Virtual Reality application, accessible via a cardboard headset, allowing children to explore the hospital ward before admission; a multi-user Virtual Reality application enabling children in different areas of the ward to interact and engage in playful activities; a Virtual Reality application for pain therapy, immersing children in relaxing environments to alleviate stress caused by medical treatments or examinations; and an Augmented Reality application featuring a treasure hunt within the hospital ward. The common thread of all activities is the story of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which served as inspiration for the creation of narrative and digital environments.