Using Mixed Reality to Reduce Anxiety and Inspire the Next Generation of Blood Donors

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood—yet anxiety around donation continues to deter many potential donors, especially younger generations. This session explores how mixed reality can transform the donation experience by reducing stress, increasing comfort, and making the process more engaging. Attendees will learn how a first‑of‑its‑kind video game designed and developed by Rock Paper Reality specifically for blood donation, paired with an original soundtrack created in collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, delivers calming, immersive support during the blood donation experience. The talk will also highlight the technical partnerships with Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm that enabled these experiences to run on the new Galaxy XR headset, making large‑scale deployment possible across dozens of countries. Perfect for innovators, healthcare leaders, and XR practitioners, this session showcases how immersive technology can drive meaningful change in donor motivation and public health.