1) Firsthand Technologies uses virtual reality and biometrics to improve health outcomes by enhancing patient experiences. Their VR pain relief systems have shown reductions in patient pain levels, stress, and opioid usage compared to traditional treatments. 2) VR is effective at reducing both the sensory and emotional components of pain by altering brain activity patterns. Studies show VR can provide better pain relief than opioids with fewer side effects. VR has also shown lasting pain relief effects even after use. 3) By combining VR with biometrics in a closed feedback loop, Firsthand aims to optimize each VR session and patient recovery over time through adaptive artificial intelligence. This approach allows them to "hack the senses" and target therapeutic changes in the brain, body

1. Advancements in
Biometrics in Virtual
Reality: a conversation
with Firsthand Technology
© 2018 Valencell, Inc
Howard Rose
CEO, Co-Founder
Firsthand Technologies

2. Topics
1. Firsthand and VR for Health
2. VR Pain Relief
3. Hacking the Senses with
VR and Biometrics

3. 1. Firsthand and
VR for Health

4. Human Interface
Technology Lab
(HITL) Seattle

5. VR is:
A computer generated
experience that evokes
the sensation the
experience is real
Howard’s Definition

8. Mental Health
PTSD - Phobias
Lifestyle
Healthier Habits
Physical Health
Pain Relief - Wellness
IraqWorld
Our work in VR for health

9. Firsthand’s Mission
Use technology
to improve health
by improving
personal experience

10. 2. VR Pain Relief

11. The Patient Experience Today
What if I die?
I can’t
afford
to be here.
I hate this
hospital!
That damn
nurse!
I can’t stand
the PAIN!
How much longer
till I can get
more DRUGS?
When can
I go
HOME?
I’m so bored.
Where’s that
@#! doctor?
My family needs me.
These people
don’t care.
I’ve got to get back
to WORK.
They are just
ignoring me!
They are too
busy to help.
Heart Rate
Elevated and Rising

12. • Less Pain & Stress
• Better Vital Signs
• Lower Demand for Drugs
• More Active & Engaged
• Better Outcomes
• More Satisfied
Wow,my hand
turned into a
fish!COOL!
Heart Rate is Stable.
Emotions are Calm.
With VR: Not just distracted, they are engaged
Nurses can attend
to other duties

13. Opioid prescriptions
longer than five days
in length significantly
increased the
likelihood of
continued opioid use
both one and three
years later.
1-year risk increase
from 6% to 12%
CDC

14. 1) High need for non-drug
pain relief alternatives
2) Interventions at the right
time can have a big impact
How this finding motivates us

15. GLOW! - Biofeedback Mindfulness Training
Wearables + Real Time Hand Interactions Make GLOW! a compelling relaxing escape

17. MediCart
VR Systems
Vive/Oculus
HTC
All-in-one
VR THERAPY
VR Experiences
Custom Development
Clinical and Research Support
PC Windows
Mixed Reality
Biosensors
A range of quality, functionality and mobility
Cell phone
Drop-in
(minimal
but
improving)
Clinically Effective
Firsthand: VR health care full solution

18. Partners and Clients

19. Lt. Sam Brown
US Army
Wounded in Afghanistan
GQ Magazine: January 31, 2012

20. Transform the
Experience of:

22. Cognitive Processing (Frontal Cortex)
Positive Coping & Resilience (pACC)
Less Emotional Pain
Fewer Pain Signals
Less Sensory Pain
(ACC)
Insula
Thalamus
Less Active Areas
More Active Areas
VR Changes Pain in the Brain
NO VR With VR
Hoffman et al. (2004, 2007)

23. VR worked better than drugs
Pain Unpleasantness
VR (-38%) Opioid (-16%)
Amount of Fun
VR (+983%) Opioids (-33%)
Time Thinking About Pain
VR (-48%) Opioids (-10%)
How Does VR Compare to Drugs?
Hoffman, et al. (2007) Anesthesia and Analgesia
Study Compared:
- No treatment
- Opioids
Hydromorphone
- VR
- VR + Opioids

24. How Does VR Compare to Drugs?
Anterior
Cingulate
Cortex
Insula
Secondary
Somatosensory
Cortex
Thalamus
Primary
Somatosensory
Cortex
Control HydromorphoneVR VR+Drugs
Hoffman, et al. (2007) Anesthesia and Analgesia
Study Compared:
- No treatment
- Opioids
Hydromorphone
- VR
- VR + Opioids

25. VR has a profound, lasting effect – not just distraction
off Chronic Pain
Relief for 94% During VR - 92% After VR
Jones, Moore & Choo (PLOS One, 2016)
“I turned my spinal stimulator off…Every time I do the program
I feel a natural high, like endorphins have been released.”
Treatment Pain During
VR
Pain After VR
5 Min Session - 60% - 33%
20 Min (x3) - 69% - 53%
Side Effects ≈0 ≈0
Matt- Veteran of Desert Storm

26. Follow-up implementation in progress
Pain
VR: 30% Reduction
Costs
VR: strong trend to reduce the cost of care
Opioids
VR: 20% Reduction
Providence Cancer Center
Pancreatic cancer - post invasive surgery
29 patients used VR (COOL and GLOW)
Results were compared to historical data

27. VR Benefits for Health Stakeholders
Doctors
Nurses Payers
Hospitals
Get Care Done Faster
Easier Patient Management
Positive Patient Interactions
Alternative to Drugs
Happier Patients with Less Stress
Better Healing - Less Complications
Lower Risk
Meaningful Data
Better Patient Outcomes
Reduced Addiction Risks
Reduced Risk of Side Effects
Higher Patient Satisfaction
Improve Staff Morale
Increased Efficiency
Reduced Risk Exposure
Branding Boost

28. 3. Hacking the Senses
with VR and Biometrics

29. Mirror Box for Phantom Limb Pain
Ramachandran & Ramachandran 1996

30. Hacking the body map

31. Patient immersed in GLOW! 2017

32. The Virtuality Manifold
Human – Machine – Environment
S A
D B
P R
Display
Biometrics
Human -
Environment
Human -
Machine
Sensation
Action
Machine -
Environment
Perception
Reach

33. Melzack & Wall (1965, 1999)
S e n s a t i o n , D i s p l a y , P e r c e p t i o n A c t i o n , B i o m e t r i c s , R e a c h
Internal Model of Pain

34. Self Regulation
Active / Creative
Sensory Learning
Manipulate Body Map
Mental Strategies
& Resilience
Therapeutic Strategies
VR Channels for Health
Therapeutic Targets
How VR Enables “Embodied Medicine”
Alter the experience of being in a body to improve health and wellness
Motivation
Positive Psychology
Down-regulation
Self-regulation
Patient engagement
Activation
Mindfulness, Skills
Habits, Knowledge
Rehab, Kinesiophobia
Neurological disorders
Stress, Depression,
Inflammation, Catharsis

35. - Full Immersion
- Energized Focus
- Full Enjoyment
- Peak Performance

36. VR + Biosensors
Flow: Awareness – Action – Response
+ Feel the potential to succeed
Immediate closed feedback loop
+ Feel so engrossed that other needs
become negligible
+ Loosen reflective self-consciousness
+ Merge action and awareness

37. Adaptive AI to maximize benefits
Payers
Patients
Doctors
Quantified
Virtual Experiences
Cloud Data
Analytics
Neuro-VR™
Analysis & Decision AI
Engine
Day 1 Day 15 Day 30
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
Pain
Healthy
Function
Optimize Each VR Session
Optimize Recovery

38. Conclusions

39. • Reduce costs at the point of care
• Improve current treatments and develop new ones
• Improve Patient Experience
• Activate patient in their own recovery
• Alternative to opioids
Benefits of VR and Biosensors
• Transition care from clinic to home

40. VR therapy gives us new insight
into the brain, body, and behavior
and
a way to affect the whole
person in real time

41. Advancements in
Biometrics in Virtual
Reality: a conversation
with Firsthand Technology
© 2018 Valencell, Inc
Howard Rose
CEO, Co-Founder
Firsthand Technology Thank You!