A Georgia-based company called Virtually Better creates virtual environments with 3-D imaging software for use by psychologists, psychiatrists and researchers.

The scenes combine video images of real people with special effects. A patient wears a helmet with screens extending over each eye that create a lifelike stereoscopic view, a motion sensor that adjusts the scene to correspond to the head position, and audio headset. Vibrating platforms and odors optional.

To confront fears, Virtually Better has created scenes of a glass elevator, bridge, airplane cabin, thunderstorm, Vietnam, and World Trade Center.