{"id":4670,"date":"2021-05-26T08:25:53","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T08:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/?page_id=4670"},"modified":"2021-05-26T08:27:51","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T08:27:51","slug":"launch_press_release","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/","title":{"rendered":"Launch Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

***** Eascape Press Release *****<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists, landscape architects and technology experts makes it possible to benefit from the healing power of nature without leaving home.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists and landscape architects, makes it possible to benefit from the healing power of nature without leaving home. The test version of the app has just been launched, as the whole world deals with the consequences of coronavirus waves and lockdowns. It is not a coincidence. In this difficult time creators of the app encourage us all to start looking at VR technology as an effective self-care tool, ready to reconnect us with nature and ease our minds.<\/b><\/p>\n

Intensive work on the project started almost exactly one year ago \u2013 during the first lockdown. <\/span>We wanted to better understand people’s psychological needs in times of confinement, so we conducted a worldwide survey on this very topic. What we have learned was very striking, although not that surprising \u2013 at least not to us <\/span><\/i>\u2013 says Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo, founder of Eascape, then she adds: <\/span>It turned out that what we, humans, miss the most in such difficult conditions is, apart from being close with relatives and friends, a deeper connection with nature. <\/span><\/i>The pandemic has shown what neuroscientists and environmental psychologists have known for a long time \u2013 that being around green spaces is crucial to our mental health and cognitive processes such as memory, attention, or creativity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We need nature more than ever<\/b><\/p>\n

If we talk about our exposure to nature the situation had been dire even before the pandemic, especially in big cities. Science shows that urban, stressful, and chaotic environments full of stimulation increase the risk of psychiatric disorders by 38% as compared to rural living. We work long hours in office spaces, away from green scenery, then we go home, where we often stay until the next day, too tired to go out and have at least a stroll in a nearby park. And even if we are keen to spend some relaxing time in green environments \u2013 we often simply cannot do so, since due to the urbanization and biodiversity loss processes we have no longer unlimited access to such spaces. This simply cannot be good for our well-being. We need to take action. <\/span>We must be mindful of what we expose ourselves to every day, to keep a healthy mind, help with depression and anxiety, alleviate stress, and reduce the risk of dementias <\/span><\/i>\u2013 explains Nicolas Escoffier, one of the creators of Eascape.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Landscapes that ease our minds<\/b><\/p>\n

Eascape builds on the concept of Contemplative Landscapes, an idea conceived in 2011 by Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo, as part of her scientific work in Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology. In her research, she found that there are certain characteristics of scenic views that can influence the human brain to improve mental health and well-being. Contemplative Landscapes should for example contain a certain landform with many layers, natural asymmetry, and depth of view. Being surrounded by such scenery we should be able to observe subtle phenomena such as the play of light and shade, trembling leaves or shadows growing and shrinking with the passage of the sun. What adds to the contemplativeness of a landscape are also archetypal elements like a running body of water, a path, an old tree, or a big stone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Space should also carry a character of peace and silence, providing comfort and a sense of solitude. <\/span>It activates our nervous system and built-in biophilia \u2013 a state that exists in all of us since the time when we were still living in close relation with nature <\/span><\/i>\u2013 says Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VR experience like no other\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Eascape is nothing like VR games. It differs even from other VR relaxation apps. Most VR apps absorb our attention completely. We have tasks to do, fantastic creatures to meet, or new things to learn. All this generates the beta waves in our brain, making our mind work at top speed, and eventually causing mental fatigue. <\/span>Eascape is not a gaming experience. It works in the opposite way to generate the alpha waves which are characteristic of the state of relaxation and mindfulness. On a daily basis, we have access to such a state only through sleep, meditation or close contact with nature<\/span><\/i> \u2013 says Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The app contains full HD 3D 180\u00b0 videos, recorded in a scientifically confirmed Contemplative Landscape site: Parchi di Nervi in Genoa, Italy. The user is able to hear the natural, relaxing sound of chirping birds and teleport to four locations across the lawn. The environment has been designed in a very minimalistic way, intentionally deprived of special effects or extraordinary elements. It is a place for soft fascination and gentle exploration that calms down the mind. The whole experience should feel like a pleasant mindfulness practice, available at one\u2019s fingertips. The Eascape team recommends spending 10 min per day in Eascape for 2 weeks to see the improvements in mood. A pilot test showed a 32% reduction of depressive mood after just 7 min using Eascape demo when compared to another VR environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Healthy VR environments to the rescue of today\u2019s societies<\/b><\/p>\n

We are sure that healthy VR environments can make a huge change in the way we as a society deal with mental health problems <\/span><\/i>\u2013 says Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo. The desire to help those who need access to nature has brought together the Eascape team which consists of people from all around the world. Growing up, they were all observing different kinds of landscapes, learning how they can affect people’s well-being. That was a huge source of inspiration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the world of Academia meets the VR industry<\/b><\/p>\n

Among Eascape team members, there are scientists from the University of Porto and the National University of Singapore who specialize in Neuroscience, Environmental Psychology, and Landscape Architecture. Why did they decide to go out with their expertise beyond the world of Academia and cross their paths with the VR industry? <\/span>We wanted to use our knowledge and create a tool that would be accessible and helpful for everyone, especially for those who struggle with depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, or burnout, as well as for elderly people who due to their health conditions often stay in isolation<\/span><\/i> \u2013 says Nicolas Escoffier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An invitation to a green peaceful change<\/b><\/p>\n

A free version of Eascape is being launched right now on Oculus. But that is just the beginning. <\/span>We dream big. We intend to conduct further research on the app, adjust it to particular groups of users and add new healthy environments based on Contemplative Landscapes from all corners of the world. But for now, we just want as many people as possible to try Eascape and be part of our green peaceful change. Our app is not about replacing nature \u2013 that\u2019s simply impossible. But when you simply cannot access it, it is as close as it gets to the real experience <\/span><\/i>\u2013 says Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Polot<\/a><\/figure>\n
During Eascape pilot experiment
\n\"EEg<\/a>
EEG experiment – effects of nature on brain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"seminar<\/a>
research meeting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"EEG<\/a>
on-site brain scan participant eeg gNIRS scan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"onsite<\/a>
participant having brain scanned<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"EEg<\/a>
experiment brain scan 3D video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"Ease<\/a>
nature<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ease<\/a>
outdoors inside your home<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Virtual reality device light up inside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Eascape<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The dark side of virtual reality. Man holds glowing VR googles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ease<\/a>
user experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

***** Eascape Press Release ***** Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists, landscape architects and technology experts makes it possible to benefit from the healing power of nature without leaving home.\u00a0   Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists and landscape architects, makes it possible to benefit from the healing power … <\/p>\n

Read More “Launch Press Release”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nLaunch Press Release | EASCAPE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Launch Press Release | EASCAPE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"***** Eascape Press Release ***** Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists, landscape architects and technology experts makes it possible to benefit from the healing power of nature without leaving home.\u00a0   Eascape, a new VR relaxation app created by neuroscientists and landscape architects, makes it possible to benefit from the healing power … Read More "Launch Press Release"\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EASCAPE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eascape.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-26T08:27:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/library-capsule_corr-200x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Eascape\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eascape.org\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/cropped-eascape.png\",\"width\":1110,\"height\":374,\"caption\":\"Eascape\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/\",\"name\":\"EASCAPE\",\"description\":\"ease your mind with a virtual journey\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/library-capsule_corr.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/\",\"name\":\"Launch Press Release | EASCAPE\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-26T08:25:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-26T08:27:51+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/launch_press_release\/\"]}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4670"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4670"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4672,"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4670\/revisions\/4672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eascape.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}