New horizons for healthcare: Magic Horizons instead of painkillers

Magic Horizons is a software company that specializes in the development and provision of virtual reality solutions in the healthcare sector. The applications run on VR goggles that make it possible to minimize external stimuli. Image and sound signals are used to induce the user to immerse themselves in an appealing situation far removed from everyday life. Listening to the sound of the sea on the beach in Thailand, frolicking in the ocean with a school of dolphins... to name just a few examples.

And that's where the magic begins: chemical processes are triggered in the body which, depending on the virtual space chosen, have a calming and stress-reducing effect. Martin Koppehele, founder and CEO of Magic Horizons, explains: "The brain is tricked, so to speak, and you believe what it perceives. We know from various scientific studies that this process has a pain and anxiety-reducing effect and, above all, is reproducible. A virtual green environment triggers the same in the body as a real green environment - deeper breathing, lower pulse rate, calming. The studies also show that the results are equivalent to drug treatment." Magic Horizons' development, which does not require any chemicals, has been certified as a medical product due to its proven effect. The start-up's VR solutions can be useful for various applications.

Thanks to the full impact of virtual reality technology, Magic Horizons glasses can be used for various target groups: Senior citizens, employees in the context of workplace health promotion and patients in clinics. Each area of application is special in its own way. "We have achieved very good results in geriatrics. Our product is mainly used there for occupational therapy activation, and more and more studies are also showing improvements in dementia," explains Koppehele. There are also various possibilities in hospitals, for example for acute anxiety in the emergency room, for pain after operations or as support in trauma therapy. Koppehele adds: "We now have the technology in 16 specialist areas, including cardiology, where many minimally invasive operations are carried out while the patient is awake. And new ones are being added regularly."

The expansion of possible applications shows the relevance and need for healthcare. This is also shown by many scientific studies on the topic of VR, which often take place directly in cooperation with Magic Horizons. The results of these studies can usually be implemented directly in new developments and updates. With the all-round carefree package in the rental model, new virtual rooms are installed, devices are maintained and supported by the service. All to keep bureaucracy as low as possible. For this reason, the goggles do not need to be connected to the IT environment, as this often leads to difficulties, particularly in the hospital environment. The VR glasses from Magic Horizons are virtually self-sufficient. The company focuses on continuous innovation: "We work with all innovative technologies for the various rooms, using hybrid techniques such as photos, videos and self-rendered content. So there is something for everyone: from real videos and audio formats to interactive applications and guided meditations," emphasizes Koppehele.

One major advantage of the solutions is their ease of use: "It currently takes 30 seconds for a carer or patient to open the box and start using it. The product has to be simple and low-threshold - otherwise medication is often the drug of choice. This can simplify processes and relieve staff," emphasizes Koppehele.

The innovation will be used even more frequently in the future and will be continuously improved through further developments. As a partner in the Health Innovation Network at Bayern Innovativ GmbH, Magic Horizons is a perfect example of how science and industry can achieve new advances that bring real added value. Open to new impulses, we are excited to see how the company develops within our network.