Learning to Drive a Wheelchair in Virtual Reality

Abstract

This research project studied the effect that a technology-based training program, WheelchairNet, could contribute to the education of children with physical disabilities by providing a chance to practice driving virtual motorized wheelchairs safely within a computer-generated world. Programmers created three virtual worlds for training. Scenarios 1 and 2 promoted independent exploration, discovery, cause and effect relationships, and visual memory (skills prerequisite to independent mobility that orthopedically impaired children often lack due to lack of experience. Scenario 3 provided a more structured environment to establish appropriate street-crossing skills on a crosswalk with a traffic light. The project evaluated the children's progress in actual reality. Results from a multivariate repeated measures design suggest all four skills improved as a function of training time. Examination of individual data suggests that children spent most of their time in the first or second worlds in the early stages but, as their skills improved, they began to spend proportionally more time in the third (more difficult) street-crossing program. All those who completed the study showed gains in driving skills as indexed in actual reality. This is significant and supports the contention that children with severe orthopedic disabilities can acquire important functional skills in virtual reality without taking the risks of learning to drive in the real world and the cost of obtaining an actual wheelchair while they learn.

The Implementation and Validation of a Virtual Environment for Training Powered Wheelchair Manoeuvres

“…On a secondary level, the results also indicate that using the training software with a desktop monitor offers no training benefit from just a single use. Over an extended period of time with multiple training sessions, desktop training can be effective, as was demonstrated by Inman et al [22]. In fact, Buttussi and Chittaro [8] found that desktop training can have similar benefits (increased knowledge and self-efficacy), regardless of the used display.…”

“…Later work by Inman et al [22] produced a simulator called WheelchairNet designed to help orthopedically challenged individuals learn to more safely and effectively operate a powered wheelchair by practicing wheelchair driving manoeuvres in three different virtual environments. The simulation is controlled mainly with arrow keys on the keyboard.…”

Wheelchair simulators: A review

“…VR has already demonstrated its potential for vehicular manipulation training (car, bicycle, or wheelchair) [20,30,34]. VR allows a user to perceive a virtual environment via sensor interfaces (flatscreens, HMDs (Head Mounted Display), and mobile platforms), and to control it via motor interfaces.…”

Efficacy of a powered wheelchair simulator for school aged children: A randomized controlled trial.

“…Virtual reality (VR) has been employed by researchers to explore the use of PWCs in children with severe orthopaedic injuries (Inman, Loge, Cram, & Peterson, 2011). Inman et al (2011) used a training platform which allowed the child's wheelchair to move and relayed information to the virtual environment to produce simulated movement. Thirteen children, 93% of whom had cerebral palsy (mean age 11 years), took part in the study and showed improved driving skills on completion.…”