VR / Training
Wheelchair-VR
A virtual reality simulator for training powered wheelchair manoeuvres
Jul 2015 - May 2017
Wheelchair-VR investigated whether an affordable virtual reality simulator could help people develop powered-wheelchair driving skills without the risks associated with early training in the physical world. The system recreated wheelchair movement and a series of navigation challenges using consumer hardware, including the Oculus Rift and Leap Motion hand tracking.
The simulator was designed for use in assessment centres or at home, avoiding the specialist projection systems used by earlier research. It also explored whether prospective wheelchair users could experience different drive configurations virtually before choosing or upgrading their equipment.
An initial validation study with 33 able-bodied participants found a statistically significant improvement in driving skills at the five-percent significance level. The research also identified cybersickness as a material limitation, which led to the subsequent Wheelchair-MR project and further investigation of mixed reality training.