Helmut Hlavacs is a Professor at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Computer Science, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in virtual reality, serious games, and human-computer interaction research. His work bridges computer science with psychological and medical applications, particularly in therapeutic contexts for children and adolescents. Dr. Hlavacs' research interests focus on virtual reality applications for healthcare, serious game design for therapeutic purposes, and innovative human-computer interaction techniques. His work demonstrates particular expertise in applying game technologies to address psychological conditions, medical treatments, and educational challenges. He has made significant contributions to VR therapy systems for anxiety disorders, stress management, and pediatric oncology support. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with virtual reality systems, developing novel game interfaces, and creating therapeutic applications for mental health conditions. His work spans technical computer graphics research, behavioral psychology studies, and practical healthcare implementations, demonstrating remarkable interdisciplinary reach. Dr. Hlavacs has collaborated extensively with medical researchers, particularly with Anna Felnhofer and Oswald D. Kothgassner on VR therapy applications, and with Amir Zaib Abbasi on consumer gaming behavior studies. His research has resulted in numerous serious games for healthcare applications, including systems for cancer patients, anxiety treatment, and vaccination communication. His laboratory work appears focused on developing the INTERACCT system for remote data entry by young leukemia patients, MindSpace for treating anxiety disorders in children, and various VR environments for therapeutic applications. Current projects indicate a strong emphasis on AI-driven game behavior, VR editor tools, and mobile gamification for behavioral change.









