From: vamplew@probitas.cs.utas.edu.au (Peter Vamplew)
Subject: VR and the Disabled
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1991 02:23:10 GMT
Organization: University of Tasmania, Australia.



I recently attended the 1991 Paper Clips to Silicon Chips Conference on
Technology and the Disabled, in Hobart, Tasmania. At it the British author
June Opie (now a resident of New South Wales) gave a paper about some of
the difficulties she has encountered because of her disability, concluding
with some suggestions on how VR could be used to help produce a better
environment for the disabled.

With the intention of sparking some discussion in this area I obtained June's
permission to post her ideas to this group. The ideas are hers, but the words
are mine so any unclear points are my fault.

June had 2 basic ideas:

- Link a wheelchair simulator to one of the architectural VR packages so
  that architects can actually investigate wheelchair access to the
  building prior to construction. June cited as an example of the need for
  this technology a local bank which recently proudly claimed to have
  installed an ATM with ramp access. Unfortunately the ATM was halfway up the
  ramp so it was virtually impossible to use (you had to move further up the
  ramp and roll back whilst engaging the brakes to hopefully stop in the
  correct location). Hopefully a wheelchair-based VR would reduce the
  likelihood of such stupidity.

  [As a side-note, how about using a wheelchair as the standard vehicle
   for exploring VR? All that's required in the way of input is a joystick
   and it overcomes the problems of changing direction associated with a
   treadmill]

- The second idea was more complicated. The concept was to create a model
  of the mobility skills of a particular individual. This could then be
  used to explore that person's options in navigating through a building.
  Again this could be used prior to construction, but it could also be
  useful for existing buildings. For example when faced with a steep set of
  stairs the individual could use the VR to explore several possible
  approaches to negotiating the stairs (backwards, sideways etc) without
  entailing the risk of falling present in trying these possibilities in
  the real world. Once a suitable solution is found the person can then
  use that strategy for real.

My comments:

The first system seems simple, just a matter of modifying the interface to
an existing architectural VR, and then persuading the architect to make use
of these facilities.

The second system would require a very good model of the individual's
physiology(?)/anatomy so that their movements could be modelled accurately.
Also the interface between user and model would need to be complete enough
to allow them their full range of normal motion, plus the feedback neccesary
for balance.

Any suggestions/discussion on these ideas, or information about research in
VR and disability would be appreciated. I will be forwarding any replies to
June.


Peter Vamplew
Dept of Computer Science, University of Tasmania