Sendai Broadcasting System, Inc. x Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine x Nippon Life Insurance Launch of an initiative for early detection of eye diseases including glaucoma

～The newly developed "Field of View Check Application (METEOR BLASTER) VR Version" is utilized to check the field of view of the patient and to provide a clear picture of the patient's field of view.

2023.07.31 11:00

株式会社仙台放送

[Key Points of the Announcement

Sendai Broadcasting Corporation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, and Nippon Life Insurance Company will launch an initiative for early detection of eye diseases.

The three parties will conclude a collaboration agreement in August.

As a first step of the initiative, a free trial of the VR version of "METEOR BLASTER," a visual field check application that can determine the health of the eyes, will be exhibited at the "Miyagi Genki Festival.

METEOR BLASTER VR

Overview

The health of people's eyes is directly related to their quality of life (QOL). However, the current rate of eye fundus examination in Japan is the lowest among developed countries, and early detection of eye diseases that are difficult to notice is an important social issue for people of all ages to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. This is an important social issue for people of all ages to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

(President: Koji Inaki, hereinafter "Sendai Broadcasting System"), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine (Dean: Naoto Ishii, hereinafter "Tohoku University"), and Nippon Life Insurance Company (President: Hiroshi Shimizu, hereinafter "Nippon Life") (Note 1) have agreed to establish the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine (President: Hiroshi Shimizu; hereinafter "Nippon Life") (Note 1) will launch an initiative for the early detection of eye diseases under the supervision of Professor Toru Nakazawa of the Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in August 2023.

As a first step, the three companies will exhibit a free trial of the VR version of "METEOR BLASTER," a visual field check application to determine eye health, at the "Miyagi Genki Festival 2023" to be held on August 5 (Sat) and 6 (Sun), 2023.

This application is a shooting game that captures stars (=white light) while destroying meteorites that appear in the center of the screen with a laser cannon in outer space, and is a simple assessment of the user's field of vision. In the VR version developed this time, users can enjoy a powerful game experience in an overwhelmingly immersive 360-degree space environment, getting into the cockpit of a spaceship and destroying meteorites while moving at high speed through outer space.

[Details

[Background of the initiative]

It is said that vision accounts for nearly 90% of the information acquired by the five human senses, and the health of the eyes is directly related to quality of life (QOL). On the other hand, in recent years, due to the increased use of digital devices and other factors, people of all ages and both sexes are spending less and less time resting their eyes. For example, glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness among Japanese people, has no subjective symptoms in its early stages, and by the time people feel abnormalities in their visual field and visit a hospital, the condition has often progressed.

However, the current rate of eye fundus examination in Japan remains the lowest among developed countries, and early detection of eye diseases that are difficult to notice is an important social issue for people of all ages to lead healthy and affluent lives. With the aim of solving these social issues, the three parties, transcending industries and organizations, have decided to join forces and conclude a collaboration agreement among the three parties to launch an initiative for early detection of eye diseases. The collaboration agreement will be signed in August.

[This initiative].

As the first step of the initiative, the three parties will exhibit a free trial of the VR version of "METEOR BLASTER," a visual field check application to determine eye health, at the "Miyagi Genki Festival 2023" to be held on August 5 (Sat) and 6 (Sun), 2023.

This newly developed application is based on technology patented* by Tohoku University and Sendai Broadcasting System, and promotes awareness of eye health while enjoying a game of destroying meteorites in VR space.

In the newly developed VR version, users can enjoy a powerful game experience in an overwhelmingly immersive 360-degree space environment, getting into the cockpit of a spaceship and destroying meteorites while moving at high speed through space.

URL: https://www.ox-tv.co.jp/meteor_blaster/

Starting with this project, the three companies will continue to promote health care research, early detection of eye diseases, and educational activities, while leveraging the strengths of each of the three companies.

■Free trial of the application

Date: August 5 (Sat.) and 6 (Sun.), 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Yume Messe Miyagi Main Exhibition Hall (free admission, no reservation required)

URL : https://www.ox-tv.co.jp/genki-fes/

Patent Information

Registration No.: No. 7103744 (July 11, 2022)

Patent Holder: Sendai Broadcasting Corporation National University Corporation Tohoku University

Inventors: Toru Nakazawa, Hiroshi Kurauchi, Shigeru Ota, Tatsuichiro Umemori, Ryoko Nakaita

Title of invention : Information processing system for visual field evaluation, information processing method for visual field evaluation, information

　　　　　　information computer program and information processing apparatus for visual field evaluation