Recent news
Source: Burgauer Krankenpflegeverein, Tagespflege Burgau
VR for seniors in nursing practice: How virtual memory journeys work in everyday nursing care
VR applications have a wide range of positive effects in nursing and occupational therapy: they promote memory, encourage movement and specifically address the emotions of older people. The immersive VR experience helps to bring seniors out of passive phases – they experience new stimuli and joie de vivre without having to leave the care environment. In the video, deputy PDL Susanne explains how these virtual journeys help to overcome inner isolation and give people a new quality of life. An inspiring example of the use of virtual reality in dementia care, activation and everyday support.
Source: Magic Horizons
Forest bathing with VR as a building block for integrative, patient-centred care
Magic Horizons Medical VR is a technology partner of the new FOREST study. This study – a joint project between the University Hospital of Würzburg, the Robert Bosch Centre for Integrative Medicine and Health in Stuttgart and the University Hospital of Tübingen – is investigating how virtual nature environments affect fatigue and depression. 172 test subjects were divided into 4 groups: real forest bathing, forest bathing with VR, imaginary forest bathing and the classic control group that did not undergo any applications.
A Real forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) can have a positive effect on mental health, as numerous studies have shown. However, patients suffering from cancer are often too exhausted or unable to go into a real forest environment – this is where virtual forest bathing using medical virtual reality comes in. The study shows whether there are differences between real forest bathing and virtual forest bathing and what impact it has on states of exhaustion, sleep problems and depression. Multisensory approaches, some of which Magic Horizons has taken up in its medical VR, also play a role. It is assumed that the effect is enhanced when several senses are addressed – visual, auditory and olfactory. Magic Horizons Medical VR is a VR solution for hospitals and therapy centres. It comprises 100 scientifically based VR contents for relaxation, mood enhancement, anxiety and pain reduction. Patients can bathe in the forest, swim with dolphins or complete a guided breathing exercise. The stand-alone system makes this possible at any location – whether in the clinic, practice or at home. The VR application is used in healthcare to distract patients or for therapeutic guidance and to transform sterile clinical environments into oases of well-being that support the recovery process.
Source: Magic Horizons
Dementia – Therapeutic settings with VR (occupational therapy and physical therapy)
This technical article discusses, among other things, how VR technology can be used for care and therapy in a clinical setting for people with dementia. Gabriele Wurzinger, a physiotherapist at the Memory Clinic of the Albert Schweitzer Clinic in Graz, reports on her work with VR systems (such as the one from Magic Horizons). The approach is, among other things, to use technology to establish access and make contact. The system is used here in individual therapeutic settings (occupational and physical therapy).
Source: Magic Horizons
A new approach to prevention: using VR to combat stress and burnout
Magic Horizons made a successful pitch at Barcamp Health Innovation with medical virtual reality that reduces stress, boosts resilience, and makes prevention sexy. The event was organized by HealthCapital Berlin Brandenburg and the TK regional office for Berlin/Brandenburg at the IBM iX DACH premises. Our VR solution for prevention in high-stress professions and for optimizing patient care using non-pharmaceutical alternatives for pain and anxiety reduction met with great interest.
Quelle: Diakonie Kork – Living Lab testing 2024 feedback report (as at 04.2025)
Diakonie Kork tests virtual reality system for people with disabilities and epilepsy
Diakonie Kork has tested the virtual reality system ‘Magic Horizons Medical VR’ – including in the residential centre, the open support service, social services, administration and the epilepsy clinic. The VR system was trialled over several months by both employees and people with disabilities.
The Magic Horizons Remote app has proven to be an important and fundamental operating tool for people with disabilities. “All participants reported positive experiences and were enthusiastic about the videos. At the beginning of the test phase, we were a little concerned about the epilepsy of some of the participants, but we didn’t notice any seizures when using the glasses,” says Julian Schulte from Diakonie Kork. However, according to Diakonie Kork, the observations made during the small test run with 30 participants are without guarantee. Further tests and scientific studies are needed on this topic.²
Diakonie Kork is one of the leading institutions in Germany specialising in the care and support of people with epilepsy and disabilities. At its centre are three specialised epilepsy clinics – for adults, children and people with complex disabilities. The offer is complemented by a wide range of services such as assisted living, work and education programmes and leisure activities.³
²Source: Diakonie Kork – Living Lab testing 2024 feedback report (as at 04.2025) ³Source: https://diakonie-kork.de/ueber-uns/wer-wir-sind/ (as at 04.2025)
Magic Horizons Medical VR and the visual worlds were developed on the basis of scientific findings.
Learn more
Source: Monika Haas and Jan-Claudius Hanika, BR, www.tagesschau.de (01.04.25/06:23)
Tagesschau report: Brain research – “Looking at nature reduces pain”
“Patients need less painkillers if they look from their hospital bed into the countryside. A new study now shows that even watching a nature video reduces acute physical pain” (quote: tagesschau.de, 1.4.25/6:23).
These findings support the use of medical virtual reality (VR), as offered by Magic Horizons.
The platform includes relaxing natural worlds such as forests, beaches and mountain landscapes, which can be used specifically for anxiety and pain management, among other things. The immersion created by VR can even intensify the effect compared to pure 2D nature videos. These innovative VR applications offer new ways to alleviate pain and promote general well-being.
Read the full Tagesschau article here.
Source: Magic Horizons
Groundbreaking VR study: King’s College London
Who takes care of those who care for us? Mental health professionals dedicate their lives to the well-being of others. But they themselves often face high levels of stress, emotional strain, and an increased risk of burnout.
That’s why King’s College London, in collaboration with other renowned research partners, has conducted the pioneering study “Multi-session virtual reality relaxation for mental health staff: a feasibility and acceptability study” to explore how VR relaxation can help reduce stress and improve well-being – together with Magic Horizons.
The results? High acceptance, significantly reduced stress, and improved well-being – all within just a few weeks.
Check out the key findings into the full study here.
Source: Adjovi Adobah, MAMO Photography Interlaken
Multi-sensory hotel room Concept with VR
At The Lab Hotel in Thun, the ‘Jungle Serenity’ Lab Room inspires with a unique fusion of nature, design and advanced technology. A particular highlight is the innovative integration of Magic Horizons virtual worlds, which allows guests to take a fascinating journey through the beauty of the jungle and the underwater world.
Developed by Adjovi Adobah as a thesis, this room offers an oasis of mindfulness and relaxation. With VR headsets to reduce stress and other features such as a vertical garden and a living jungle wall design, the stay becomes a multi-sensory experience.
Realise a non-binding test with our VR system in your location now and try out how modern technology and the hotel industry can merge into forward-looking concepts.
Magic Horizons at the “Altenpflegemesse” (Elderly Care Trade Fair)
Over three days, we were able to present our unique solutions for “Virtual Travel” for seniors and “Virtual Breaks” for nursing staff at the „Altenpflegemesse” (Elderly Care Trade) in Nuremberg, Germany. We received a lot of interest and demand for our virtual reality products, which have been scientifically evaluated and certified as CE-certified medical devices. Here is a 3 min video from the fair:
Magic Horizons Relaxation at Hanover Airport
An exciting cooperation with Hannover Airport, Grube Kommunikation and Kabetec.
Press Release Alloheim: “Virtual journeys and experiences for seniors at the Alloheim Taubertal Seniors Centre”
Picture: Care assistant Ina Rehda and resident Franziska (102)
Expo Dubai
Magic Horizons is showcasing Virtual Reality at Expo Dubai during the Bavarian weeks in the German Pavilion.
Source: www.informationszentrum-mobilfunk.de
The information center Mobilfunk.de visited Magic Horizons and various other companies on the subject of innovative 5G applications in a roadshow.
Our topic: How can virtual reality with its high data rates and low latency become a “super use case” for 5G – and vice versa? The 5G networks are very exciting for our Magic Horizons VR applications: In the future, 5G will enable new 360 VR content to be streamed directly to our customers in real time and in top quality from the cloud.
In a TV report, Bayerischer Rundfunk reports on the relaxing and mobilizing effect of the Magic Horizons VR experiences at the Barmherzige Schwestern retirement and nursing home in Krailling.
“For her and the team, she says, it’s wonderful to watch the residents dive into another world. That is also digital participation.” said Silke Süss from social care.
Source: Helmut Martin-Jung, www.sueddeutsche.de, 19.01.2021
“Meditate with Virtual Reality”
The newspaper’s Internet portal of Süddeutsche Zeitung, a leading newspaper in Germany, published an article about Magic Horizons.
MEDICA – Interview with Magic Horizons, Martin Koppehele
Source: n-tv.de, 28.03.2021
“Sounds of nature are proven to be healthy”.
“Birds chirping, the sound of a creek or wind rustling through treetops: such sounds of nature not only sound pretty, but also have concrete health benefits. At least that is the result of a US study published in the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences (“PNAS”)” according to www.n-tv.de on 28.03.2021. The VR experiences of Magic Horizons use exactly this effect.
The importance of music in preventing stress
Music has been proven to prevent stress. It can help to reduce stress in terms of physiological, cognitive and emotional factors. In the brain, music has effects of similar intensity to physiological reward systems. When music is processed in the brain, it’s not just auditory systems that are involved. Language, motor and visual zones are also active in this process. So music that is produced to play to these effects creates “feelings of happiness”. They break the continuous tension caused by stress and strengthen resilience. This effect is amplified massively when music is combined with virtual reality environments.
“Everything that creates a stress response in our life can be countered with a relaxation response.”
Interview with Dr. med. Hans-Ulrich Sappok (specialist in general medicine, lecturer in general medicine at the Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany)
The Dental Team of DDS Dental Care Shanghai brings magic moments and relaxation to their patients.
GOETHE-INSTITUT in HONGKONG invites you to participate in the unique VR experiences of Magic Horizons GmbH
Stress reduction, increasing resilience and mental health support for employees.
Source: Munich Airport
Magic Horizons at Munich airport: MUC Skytrax – Relax Cabs
Magic Horizons has been selected to present our VR solutions as part of the “Clash of the 5G-Startups” in London at 5G World Summit
Virtual Reality for stress reduction and mental regeneration as a super use case for 5G. We look forward to the event!
The Alloheim senior citizens’ home Taubertal offers Virtual Reality Experiences of Magic Horizons.
Residents and employees dip into virtual worlds.
Source: STERN magazine, no. 35, 22/8/2019, page 18
STERN:‘Pain relief: immersing themselves in virtual worlds helps patients’
‘Patients who used virtual reality headsets felt less pain for a longer period of time than those who distracted themselves by watching TV,’ a US study has found. The palliative effects lasted for up to 72 hours. Patients with extremely severe pains benefited most from the headset. The mechanism by which this operates, it is believed, is that experiences in the virtual reality realm distract the patient so much that their pains are perceived less intensely.’
The association Wir Sind Altenpflege provides a workshop about Virtual Travel
The training according to §53c SGB XI for care staff according to §43b SGB XI presents the application possibilities of Virtual Reality in the care of seniors and people in need of care.
Magic Horizons and French Telecom company Orange are teaming up.
Orange shares the Magic Horizons’ 360 Virtual Reality Videos for: Relaxation, stress reduction and mental regeneration. In these extraordinary times mental health is very important. So immersive yourself in beautiful 360 worlds, join breathing exercises in VR, watch a Dreamy Beach, enjoy Dolphins, enter the Magic Garden or float in Space. Pure wellness for your soul.
Binaural Audio Mix
We have improved the existing binaural mixing technique to create a superb, three-dimensional musical soundscape.
Virtual Reality in pediatric oncology at the Munich Clinic Schwabing
People of all ages love fairy tales, and we need them today more than ever.
Experiencing the fairy tales of your childhood in VR is an intense journey into a world full of magic and fantasy. A world filled with fundamentally human needs and dreams.
Immersing yourself with a VR headset in a land of kings, giants and dwarves allows us to completely switch off from the here and now, from the worries and difficulties of everyday life, no matter how big or small. Fairy tales are much more than simply exciting and captivating stories. Spending time with fairy tales – precious time – is almost a luxury!
NEC Showcase, London Event
Behind the scenes at NEC Showcase 2018 at our virtual reality booth.
Magic Horizons is now a member of the association Wir sind Altenpflege e.V.
We look forward to supporting the association with our innovative VR solutions: virtual travel and relaxation for residents and employees in care homes.
Constant stress, anxiety disorders, burn-out prevention
Issue 63 of GEO WISSEN analyses physical symptoms and provides lots of tips. ‘Wounds heal slower if you’re stressed’ and ‘positive emotions can alleviate the progress of many illnesses, while negative ones aggravate them’ according to GEO Wissen, issue no. 63.
“When I wear the [Virtual Reality (VR)] headset, I don’t think about my illness”
describes a childhood cancer patient her experience with the Magic Horizons VR applications in “COLUMBA – Das Palliativ-Portal Magazin”. “In addition to numerous senior citizens who are calmer and in a more positive mood as a result of their digital journeys, nursing staff also report their own virtual time-outs, which make them more relaxed, more balanced and thus ultimately more stress-resistant.”
Calming patients at the dentist with VR experiences of Magic Horizons
Feedback of dentist Med. dent. David Diaz
connect-ec
connect-ec 2019 with Magic Horizons team.
Magic Horizons at the Priental retirement home in Aschau
High-quality content based on the latest scientific findings
The effectiveness of VR for relaxation has been confirmed in a study by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
„Relaxation effects and regeneration after stress have been demonstrated for music and virtual environments in various studies.“
Dr. Christian Stein from the study (dated 01.11.2018) of the gamelab.berlin at the cluster of excellence Image Knowledge Design of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin for Magic Horizons GmbH
Source: www.informationszentrum-mobilfunk.de, 16.4.2021
„Virtual Reality with 5G – Interview with Giorgio Koppehele, Magic Horizons“
Source: Wolfgang Tunze, tonart das Musikmagazin für Ärzte, Issue 3| 2019, Page 20, publishing company otello media www.tonartmagazin.de
Tonart: ‘Magic Horizons, Reducing Stress in 3D’
‘If we can’t just shake off day-to-day stress, we need to take some time out. Lengthy holidays, a cure or a long-distance trip can help us escape the mental hamster wheel. However, there are also remedies that can be effective with a small daily dose, the multimedia specialists at Magic Horizons say: trips to virtual worlds that pair the visual dream sceneries with 3D sounds that immerse the listener, putting them into a state of deep relaxation without the need for a plane ticket or a heavy suitcase…’
According to a study by the University of Exeter, VR nature videos trigger real happiness
Source: Scientific Reports | (2021) 11:3994
Study by the University of Hamburg shows that virtual nature also has a positive effect on well-being.
NEWSFLASH: A quick flash on relaxing experiences with Magic Horizons. Let yourself be inspired.
Source: ATF Pictures Alex T. Friedel
