The digital healthcare scene is also bustling ahead of the super-aged society. As “senior” healthcare and welfare have emerged as a social issue, leading healthcare technology companies based on artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and metaverse are also paying attention to this trend. Some have already completed developing related technologies, with their contents about to enter the market in earnest.

Against this backdrop, healthcare startup Tenetus (formerly M2S) held a seminar on “developing digital healthcare products customized for seniors using VR metaverse” at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, last Thursday. It is part of the Ministry of Science and ICT's “Public Procurement-Linked R&D Demonstration and Commercialization Support Project.”

Tenetus presented senior-customized healthcare technology and supplementary contents utilizing the 'base-type VR metaverse technology.” Modularly, it includes eye health measurement, cognitive training, physical exercise, meditation content, and emotional healing.

Individuals can train by combining content, and group participation is also possible.

The subjects' global cognitive scores improved significantly in a 24-week clinical study conducted by Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Bucheon and the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital on patients with mild cognitive impairment. In particular, the memory performance score significantly improved.

The VR participation program jointly offered by the Mokdong Senior Welfare Center bridged the digital divide. It demonstrated the ability to manage programs by demand by building a “base-type metaverse environment.”

Based on this research, Tenetus will launch a new senior-customized healthcare product under the Robustand brand. As the government has selected it as an innovative product for public procurement, the providers plan to introduce a “fast-track” launch in the public sector, such as welfare centers, public institutions, and medical institutions, like hospitals. It will be introduced as a cognitive intervention therapy device in the medical field. In the public and welfare fields, it will take the form of wellness equipment in dementia relief centers, welfare centers, and health centers.

"The significance of this study is that it is not just flipping through a 'booklet' but checking physical ability and health level in a 'space' realized using VR technology," said Hong Dong-ki, head of Tenetus’ study team.

Hong said, “Even if you make a good product, it’s useless unless consumers use it. We have tried to create a flow of learning and change through fun and belonging through 'play.' As seniors share and show off (their play results) with one another, they will gain confidence and improve their life vitality, bridging the digital divide and restoring social functions."

Tenetus described it as a "group-network therapy" process. Tenetus' VR and metaverse technologies also focus on creating communication spaces for this purpose.

"We prioritized implementing a system with no space constraints and multiple access," Hong said. “We wanted to create a space where people could meet each other and enjoy the content together in groups, rather than doing it alone."

In a program with the Mokdong Senior Welfare Center, a system where agencies compete with each other was suggested, and Tenetus introduced it, Hong noted.

“Older adults from each organization were more actively involved and responded well out of wishes that 'I want my organization to do better,'" he said. "We expect that if we develop this, we can move forward with 'group therapy' or 'network therapy.'"

Participants also emphasized the connection between the welfare sector and the digital healthcare industry as a measure for the super-aged society.

"A policy support system should be established so that welfare centers can continue to provide senior healthcare services,” said Baek Seung-hwan, a Mokdong Senior Welfare Center team leader. “On the business side, they ought to establish a mutual opinion gathering system so that companies can understand the situation in the field of senior welfare."

He went on to say, "We hope that the Tenetus senior healthcare program will contribute to forming a culture where seniors can communicate with other welfare center seniors and manage their health together in a new virtual space beyond the limited physical space of the welfare center.”

In response, Tenetus CEO Kim Yang-ho said the company would contribute to solving the problem of senior care with its Metaverse Healthcare solution and strengthen the competitiveness of healthcare medical device technology.

"Since we have confirmed the safety and validity of the content and have gone through the demonstration stage, we will actively distribute the product to welfare centers, dementia centers, health centers, and rehabilitation hospitals based on the results of this study to play a role in senior customized health care," Kim said.

He went on to say, "The importance of fostering the senior industry and culture is being emphasized along with the increase in the number of senior citizens. Government healthcare policies are also targeting the senior population. We hope that the results of this project will lead to the development of senior healthcare content and related industries."