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

Abstract

Abstract-Navigating a powered wheelchair and avoiding collisions is often a daunting task for new wheelchair users. It takes time and practice to gain the coordination needed to become a competent driver and this can be even more of a challenge for someone with a disability. We present a cost-effective virtual reality (VR) application that takes advantage of consumer level VR hardware. The system can be easily deployed in an assessment centre or for home use, and does not depend on a specialized high-end virtual environment such as a Powerwall or CAVE. This paper reviews previous work that has used virtual environments technology for training tasks, particularly wheelchair simulation. We then describe the implementation of our own system and the first validation study carried out using thirty three able bodied volunteers. The study results indicate that at a significance level of 5% then there is an improvement in driving skills from the use of our VR system. We thus have the potential to develop the competency of a wheelchair user whilst avoiding the risks inherent to training in the real world. However, the occurrence of cybersickness is a particular problem in this application that will need to be addressed.

Clinical Virtual Reality tools to advance the prevention, assessment, and treatment of PTSD

“…This recognition of the potential impact of VR technology has led to the emergence of a significant, albeit still maturing, research literature that documents the many clinical and research targets where VR can add value relative to traditional assessment and intervention methods. A short list of the areas where Clinical VR has been usefully applied includes fear reduction in persons with specific phobias (Morina et al, 2015; Opris et al, 2012; Parsons & Rizzo, 2008; Powers & Emmelkamp, 2008), treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (Beidel, Frueh, Neer, & Lejuez, 2017; Botella et al, 2015; Difede & Hoffman, 2002; Difede et al, 2007, 2014; Maples-Keller et al, 2017; McLay et al, 2011; Rizzo et al, 2010, 2013, 2017; Rothbaum, Hodges, Ready, Graap, & Alarcon, 2001; Rothbaum et al, 2014), cue-exposure for addiction and relapse prevention (Hone-Blanchet, Wensing, & Fecteau, 2014; Yoon et al, 2014), depression (Falconer et al, 2016), paranoid delusions (Freeman et al, 2016), discomfort reduction in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (Schneider, Kisby, & Flint, 2010), acute pain reduction during wound care and physical therapy with burn patients (Hoffman et al, 2011), other painful procedures (Gold et al, 2006; Mosadeghi, Reid, Martinez, Rosen, & Spiegel, 2016), body image disturbances in patients with eating disorders (Riva, 2011), navigation and spatial training in children and adults with motor impairments (John, Pop, Day, Ritsos, & Headleand, 2017), functional skill training and motor rehabilitation in patients with central nervous system dysfunction (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, etc.)…”

The Augmented Reality Telerehabilitation System for Powered Wheelchair User’s Training

“…Also, it includes individuals who have suffered a stroke or injury [2]- [4]. According to the census of England and Wales carried out in 2011, 1.9 percent of the population use a wheelchair, an estimated 1.2 million people [5]. Other countries will have proportionally similar numbers within their population.…”

“…Authors have been exploring Virtual Reality (VR) in many protocols and several situations safely [5], [6], [10], [11]. A Virtual Reality Environment (VRE) for PW driving training, which is focused only on indoor challenges are shown by John et al [5], Kamaraj et al [10] and Mahajan et al [11]. A VRE with indoor and outdoor scenarios, but not yet focused in training is shown by Vailland et al [6].…”

“…An important feature for these VRE's, that increase user training adherence, is the immersion level. Usually, it is related to the quality of 3D models, the number of senses transferred to the VRE, e.g., a head-mounted display (HMD) or desktop monitor, used to preview the VRE, although it can lead the user to have cybersickness [5], [6], [10]. Notwithstanding, these VRE's have some limitations such as were tested only with healthy users, poor quality of VR immersion, some real-world situations are not easy to reproduce, and the existence of hidden objects in some cases.…”

“…Driving performance was assessed in many different ways in presented simulators. A non-standard statistic method to asses comparative metrics among the users from each group was used by John et al [5]. The PMRT was chosen by Kamaraj et al [10], Mahajan et al [11] and Massengale et al [18] as a standard and reliable methodology (training protocol and assessment) applied for each user distinctly.…”