Be. Labs Virtual Reality

Domestic violence scene simulator with virtual reality to increase empathy and raise awareness

Ever imagined walking in someone else's shoes to truly understand their struggles? That's exactly what sparked our idea for this project. We wanted to create a virtual reality (VR) tool that could immerse people in scenarios of social pressure. Our goal was to increase empathy and awareness about domestic violence, one of Brazil's pressing social issues.

Work

The brainstorming sessions gave birth to the idea of using VR for social impact. We wanted to make a real difference by changing people's perspective about domestic violence. But how could we do that? The answer was simple: make them experience it firsthand, safely, using VR.

Our journey began with extensive research about VR business models and defining our target market. To stay organized, we used Trello for project management and Slack for communication. We also secured approval and funding from the Centelha Paraíba program, an initiative promoted by Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications.

We created a domestic violence simulator with biometric monitoring as our first VR application. This prototype, designed for Oculus Go equipment, helped users experience the chilling reality of domestic violence from both victim's and aggressor's perspectives.

Our project caught global attention when we became finalists in the K-Startup Grand Challenge, a worldwide startup competition funded by the Korean government. We competed with 360 finalists from 118 countries, which was an exciting and challenging experience.

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To develop the VR prototypes, we partnered with Bugaboo Studio, a team of designers, programmers, engineers, and 3D artists. We presented our prototype in various competitions, earning the IEEE Entrepreneurship Stars Recognition Program. This achievement highlighted our commitment to innovation and the betterment of humanity through technology.

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Outcomes

The unexpected happened: the pandemic hit, and our government funding was cut. However, we refused to give up. We pivoted to a more cost-effective solution, creating a chatbot called Patricia. This shift, although unexpected, provided valuable data for future VR implementations.

Lessons Learned

This project taught me the power of communication, the need for flexibility, the importance of sound financial management, and the effectiveness of Design Thinking. It also honed my leadership skills, reminding me that even in the face of adversity, innovation and resilience can lead the way. Most importantly, it reinforced my belief in using technology to drive social change and make a difference in people's lives.