Description "SuperNils SuperVerse"
Children, adolescents and young adults with (haematological) cancer often spend long periods of time in hospital. Regularly, they have to be quarantined because their blood values are not OK and the risks of infection are too high. Loneliness and boredom then strike quickly. After all, you are always between 4 the same walls, having little contact.
Asbl SuperNils wants to do something about this. That is why we had a Metaverse (hypothetical online world where people can meet through avatars), which will allow patients to move from their hospital room or environment into an open virtual world. And this in a completely safe way, without risk of contamination and infection. The objectives of the Metaverse are to be able to step aside from reality, allowing daily worries to be forgotten for a while and time to move forward a little faster. Well-being and mental well-being will also improve as a result, which in turn has a positive impact on the healing process. It also gives patients the chance to go to a place, where they cannot/should not go at that moment. Furthermore, the Metaverse will take away some of the loneliness, by being able to speak live with family, friends and fellow sufferers. The programme will also incorporate other objectives of the non-profit organisation SuperNils, namely informing (health education) and working on agility.
The development of this extensive project is being done by an Antwerp-based specialist company, Venar.
Following features are being developed in the process ...
The global tool
The budget of a Social Grant 2023 from Foundation Against Cancer supports the development of a virtual SuperNils environment - SuperNils SuperVerse, with SuperNils-Avatar, in which you can wander around quietly and discover things. The environment exudes tranquillity, which is hugely important for our patients.
Virtual tours are also provided outside the hospital. We are thinking of a tour of the tourist centre of Antwerp, a visit to the zoo, a walk along the Scheldt, a visit to a museum, a visit to the Port of Antwerp, C-Mine Genk, ... For these films, we received funding from Stichting tegen Kanker and other sponsors (such as Roche NV, SOBI, AstraZeneca, Takeda, Amgen and Janssen Farmaceutica). Obviously, the offer will be continuously expanded over the years and tailored to the questions and needs of the patients themselves.
A relaxation section, where you can dream away during the screening of a beautiful nature film (Kalmthoutse Heide and Arboretum Kalmthout), supported by the sounds of a Yoga Nidra, is also on offer.
Interact with other peers, via your own SuperNils avatar. Yes, you really can communicate with each other within the system! This part is supported by Foundation Against Cancer, as well as the budget of The Warmest Week 2023. We would like to agree a few things with you in function of this tool:
- Always talk to each other with due respect
- Use polite language
swearing, swearing, etc. are really not allowed
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Be respectful of each participant's privacy
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Share only what you feel is okay
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Do not share bank details, passwords, etc. here.
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If someone does not want to talk about a certain topic, respect this and do not insist
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You can always report problems via the contact form (see button: Contact)
Integration of a movement game (beat the confused cells with your paddle rocket / linked to the movement case of non-profit organisation SuperNils), supported by The Warmest Week 2023.
Meanwhile, two more game activities were integrated into the environment, namely a quest through the forest, where you have to look for crystals, and pictionary, which you can also play in pairs. Roche NV provided the necessary budget for this.
Images from the film come from "The World of AYA" (project asbl SuperNils) and Canva Pro (licence owned).
The "Tower of Wisdom" ... Avatar SuperNils knows it all!
Health education, where you learn a little more about necessary dietary foods, sexuality or hygiene, for example. All told by specialists in the field and viewable in the VR environment. Also, information on work and cancer, reimbursements, social support options, AYA team, etc.
Choose a question and watch the video in which they give the answer. Please note: the answers given by the professionals are global answers. Always check with your personal doctor or healthcare provider whether the answer fits your situation. After all, everyone is different; every treatment is specific and individual.
For this beautiful project, we have the cooperation of professionals from various hospitals and a nice budget through a Levensloop Grant from Levensloop Schoten 2024.
Images from the film come from "The World of AYA" (project asbl SuperNils) and Canva Pro (licence owned).
Cancer ... dance for your mental boost ...
We would like to inform you now about this part of the great VR package: "Dance and move with the teachers of MOSA Ballet School Liege".This project consists of 3 different parts.
In part 1, you can watch ordinary films of dance classes recorded at MOSA Ballet School Liege. You can do this on your computer, laptop, ipad or smartphone. From your bed or seat, you can join the dancers. You get professional explanations from MOSA's dance teachers. By clicking on the print to the right, you will be taken to the different, available films and can dance along with the teachers and students of MOSA Ballet School Liege. Available from October 2025.
In part 2, we take it a step further. Now we are in our VR application SuperNils SuperVerse "The World of AYA". You have to go to a special place in the forest (a dance island). Click on the signpost and ... within seconds you are there and the experience can start. You will again be instructed by the teachers and you can join in, either from the bed, the sofa or just in the room. Just make sure you have enough space around you, although you shouldn't make any big movements. Normally, you should be able to do it even with a drip in your arm. But always be careful!
Finally, in part 3, the teachers from MOSA Ballet School Liege come to the hospital and will move to music with you and others. This will be done in a special room and, of course, only when you are not in isolation.
To get started with this SuperVerse, we obviously need VR glasses. Asbl SuperNils can already provide the partner hospitals with a number of glasses, from the budgets of Foundation Against Cancer, The Warmest Week 2023 and a number of individuals, companies and associations. You can find them all at the sponsors of this beautiful project.
The company, Venar, will make the glasses fully compatible so that they can be used easily and without too many interventions by nurses. Regular updates will also be possible from a distance.
The SuperNils SuperVerse "The World of AYA" was developed for use with Vr glasses in hospitals and inpatient centres. We think this is where patients need distraction and relaxation the most. The programme cannot be installed on other, personal VR glasses. Working with the mobile phone in a cardboard holder is also not recommended. It is complex and the results are not qualitative.
Images from the film come from "The World of AYA" (project asbl SuperNils) and Canva Pro (licence owned).