ReVive: Rehabilitation Via Immersive Virtual Environment
Overview
The aim of this research project is to develop virtual reality software for eventual use during rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury.
Method
A user-centred design was used to develop and test the feasibility of an immersive 3D virtual reality wheelchair training tool for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Conclusions
The Oculus Rift Wheelchair Training System has the potential to provide a virtual rehabilitation setting which could allow wheelchair users to learn valuable community wheelchair use in a safe environment.
Nausea appears to be a side effect of the system, which will need to be resolved before this can be a viable clinical tool.
Researchers/collaborators
Key contact
Jo Nunnerley, Burwood Academy of Independent Living
Phone: 03 383 6871
Fax: 03 383 7500
Mobile: 021 2872 651
Email:Dr Jo Nunnerley
Other researchers and collaborators
Debbie Snell, Burwood Academy of Assisted Living
Marcus King, Callaghan Innovation
Dr Swati Gupta, Callaghan Innovation
Ally Calder, University of Otago, Christchurch
Final Year Physiotherapy Students, University of Otago
Phase 2: Testing a habituation protocol
From left to right: Shane, Debbie, Marcus, Anita, Logan, Gemma, Ally.
In front: Ed, Hannah and Swati
Stickmen Media have also been involved in this project.
Visit the Stickmen Media website
Outputs
Video
Following is a video of a presentation on the results of Phase 2
Following is a video of a presentation on the project and the results of Phase 1
Article
Article: Training wheelchair navigation in immersive virtual environments for patients with spinal cord injury – end-user input to design an effective system.
Access the article on the Taylor & Francis Online database
Status of the research
Phase 1 is complete.
Phase 2 underway.
Related information
News article - MTech-offers-more-than-games-for-spinal-rehab (September 22, 2017)
News article - Stickmen Media powering wheelchairs in virtual reality (June 13, 2015)