My project idea



My research proposal is an AR experience aimed at children diagnosed with serious illnesses such as cancer in hospitals who are missing out on crucial elements of their childhood because they are not allowed to leave and are forced to stay within a confined space due to their life threatening illness. Through this children will have an 'escape' to the outside world through stories therefore engaging their minds and without worsening their condition or risking their health. I will include my own sound effects to add a comforting feel and to also make it more realistic. I will be experimenting with adobe aero and unity to create these magical stories and bring them to life. I want the children to feel as though nothing is impossible, even if they have been given a shorter life than others, anything is possible with your imagination. I want to include different elements within my stories such as mythical creatures, fire and water to create a magical world for the children.

Objectives of my Augmented reality project

- To provide a fun and engaging storytelling experience to allow children to feel normal regardless of their illness and even thought they cannot attend school and typical childhood activities.

- To give children a magical experience and help them forget where they are for a short time whilst engaging in my AR storybook.

- Giving children educational knowledge of the world and allowing them to somewhat experience things they may never see by including real life elements but still keeping it childish and immature so that is is appealing to them.

Concept Research

- "Survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk of mental health disorders" - National cancer institute

Whilst researching my topic I looked into how cancer/illness can affect children's mental health and what it can do to their childhood, the children's cancer and leukemia group came to the conclusion that it can lead to "poorly developed interpersonal skills, feeling isolated, and can be be a cause of low self esteem".

According to the cancer council, children may experience a loss of concentration and ability to learn, an AR experience could help with this as it is a fun and interactive way of learning as opposed to reading and writing which could be tiresome for ill children, more so if they are severely diagnosed and are close to end of life. This AR experience gives children the ability to feel normal for a short while and allows them to escape the hospital room to which they are confined. Similarly, cancer research uk found that virtual reality and augmented reality can actually help to "reduce pain and emotional distress".


One person who has inspired the origin of my project is 26 year old steven mair who has influenced and brand new job role, which consists of going to children's hospitals and playing video games with them, his goal is to help the children not feel isolated and bored and to occupy them during the tough time they are going through in hospital. "Recent medical studies demonstrated a link between playing video games and reduced feelings of anxiety in hospital, with some even suggesting video games could reduce pain."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cn8l7w747d2o#:~:text=More%20gaming%20good%20news&text=Mario%20Kart%20and%20Minecraft%20are,during%20their%20time%20in%20hospital.


https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-study-using-virtual-reality-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety-caused-by-cancer-and-cancer-treatment#undefined