  Acupuncture is a widely adopted medical practice that involves inserting thin
needles into specific points on the body to alleviate pain and treat various
health conditions. Current learning practices heavily rely on 2D atlases and
practice on peers, which are notably less intuitive and pose risks,
particularly in sensitive areas such as the eyes. To address these challenges,
we introduce AcuVR, a Virtual Reality (VR) based system designed to add a layer
of interactivity and realism. This innovation aims to reduce the risks
associated with practicing acupuncture techniques while offering more effective
learning strategies. Furthermore, AcuVR incorporates medical imaging and
standardized anatomy models, enabling the simulation of customized acupuncture
scenarios. This feature represents a significant advancement beyond the
limitations of conventional resources such as atlases and textbooks,
facilitating a more immersive and personalized learning experience. The
evaluation study with eight acupuncture students and practitioners revealed
high participant satisfaction and pointed to the effectiveness and potential of
AcuVR as a valuable addition to acupuncture training.
