Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme company spotlight: Holo-Log

Our Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme spotlight for December is on Holo-Log. Adam Wacey, Holo-Log's founder and CEO, shares insights about the company and its innovation. Holo-Log is a groundbreaking platform that provides holographic streaming, enhancing telepsychiatry communication and offering tailored therapeutic solutions for young people. The Health Innovation Network South London is supporting Holo-Log as part of our delivery of the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme for Innovate UK.

What three pieces of advice would you give budding innovators?

What’s the most exciting statistic or fact you have about XR in mental health?

The first mention of concepts, related to virtual realities in mental health, can be found in William Gibson's genre-defining 1984 novel Neuromancer where he coined the term 'cyberspace'.

Many years later, technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and telemedicine bring elements of that sci-fi world into reality, demonstrating profound therapeutic potential in treating mental health conditions and improving patient care.

How has user feedback, particularly from patients and clinicians, shaped your product?

Having worked in national IT programmes for years, I’ve seen the side of computing that tried to tell clinicians how to do their jobs without truly understanding their needs.

Clinicians were rightfully frustrated, and many of these projects failed. Learning from these failures, I ensured that Holo-Log was co-designed with clinicians, to ensure it was tailored to them and aligned with their needs.

In short, listen to clinicians — they know what they’re doing.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far in developing your innovation?

Too many ideas but not enough time. Co-designing with clinicians to identify their specific needs helps me narrow down ideas. I’ve been in the immersive tech field for a long time, starting with computer vision in 1994. I’ve also worked in VR since 2016 and Augmented Reality (AR) since 2017.

A lot of it is about distinguishing the unrealistic ideas, while still aiming to stay ambitious and focused on the goals I’m trying to achieve. I always strive to create something unique, as that’s the best way to achieve the most impactful results. Simply following trends tend not to be so engaging.

Technology is converging and evolving — everything has its time. It’s great to be at the forefront, but letting things develop and evolve is important.

How could your innovation tackle inequalities in mental health?

Our main innovation addresses mental health inequalities, particularly for those who are agoraphobic or unable to leave their residence due to anxiety or depression, which prevents them from attending clinical sessions.

The goal is to provide an experience as close as possible to an in-person meeting, significantly improving convenience. It also supports individuals who aren’t digitally savvy by offering easy-to-use buttons and analogues that provide tactile feedback, making the technology simpler and more accessible.

Why should the health and care system be excited about your innovation?

People should be excited because I hope to have built something that provides the same level of engagement and therapeutic alliance as in-person therapy or appointments. This solution offers an improvement over existing video calling platforms, representing a step forward for telecommunications.

The vast number of people with anxiety and depression could benefit from this innovation. Even a 10% increase in digital efficiency could have profound implications for the NHS and the national economy.