Overview
CalmPulse VR is an immersive virtual reality experience designed to help users manage stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue through guided meditation, mindful breathing, and serene, nature-inspired environments.
Developed under BNU Connect, the project brings together students from Media, Design, and Psychology to explore how creative technologies can promote digital mental wellness. It offers a private, stigma-free space for emotional relief and mindfulness practice — combining psychological insight with interactive art and advanced VR design.
Key Features
- Adaptive Breathing Feedback – Visuals and ambient sounds respond to the user’s breathing rhythm, promoting deep, steady relaxation.
- Immersive Environments – Serene landscapes such as tranquil beaches, mountain valleys, and floating sky gardens designed with soothing palettes and motion.
- Guided Meditation Mode – Short mindfulness sessions built on evidence-based cognitive and relaxation techniques developed with psychology students.
- Personalized Paths – Multiple modes for focus, calm, or sleep, allowing users to tailor their experience to emotional needs.
- VR-Enabled Mindfulness – Harnesses VR’s sense of presence to deepen focus, empathy, and self-regulation.
Design & Development
CalmPulse VR embodies the interdisciplinary innovation that defines BNU Connect:
- SMC contributed narrative design, sound, 3D environments, and interactivity.
- SVAD developed the visual aesthetics, look, and feel.
- IP provided the psychological framework for stress reduction and emotional regulation.
The experience was built in Unreal Engine 5, using Meta Quest headsets, Maya, and Substance Painter. Iterative user testing measured emotional response and perceived calmness to refine the visual, auditory, and spatial design for maximum impact.
Recognition
CalmPulse VR received the Best Prize at the BNU Final Year Project Showcase 2025, recognized for its meaningful integration of art, science, and technology in addressing mental wellness through immersive media.
The project was also shortlisted as a Finalist for the QS ImpACT Awards 2026 (Climate Education for Change – Youth Award), selected from over 500 global applicants. This international recognition highlights both its technical maturity and its growing relevance to global wellbeing and sustainability.
Impact
CalmPulse VR demonstrates how virtual reality can support mental wellbeing in educational, workplace, and therapeutic contexts. It introduces a culturally sensitive, accessible model for digital self-care — addressing mental health stigma while encouraging everyday mindfulness.
The project continues to inspire interdisciplinary research and course development in immersive media for wellbeing across BNU.
Team Members
- Project Lead: Ayesha Siddiqui (Undergraduate Researcher)
- Research and Development Team: Maha Zuhaib, Sarah Zuhaib, Yomnah Ayman, Maryam Zaman Khan, Jannat Sharif, Iqra Zahoor, Zainab Khalid, Sidra Younas, Ali Sher
Project Supervisors
- Mr. Muhammad Naveed Aasim – Assistant Professor, SMC (Immersive Media)
- Ms. Iqra Naz – Lecturer, IP (Institute of Psychology)
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