Adapting VR Games for People with Disabilities
WalkinVR is the software that allows you to play the best VR games.
Why do you need WalkinVR?
Can’t move in real life often means Can’t move in Virtual Reality. You need also to hold controllers, press the button, adjust the position.
WalkinVR has been tested to make VR accessible for people with: cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, muscular dystrophies
spinal muscular atrophies,neuropathy and orthopedic problems.
WalkinVR is a software compatible with PC-powered VR headset on SteamVR platform.
Top VR Games for People with Disabilities
Beat Saber, Job Simulator, AudioShield, BoxVR and many more. These games are engaging and very immersive, but for years they haven’t been accessible for everyone… Now, players with disabilities can also play the best VR games with WalkinVR Driver.
GAMES IN REHABILITATION
VR games can be an exciting addition to a regular rehabilitation
VR is a chance to positively influence the level of the patient’s motivation and diversify the rehabilitation process.
While playing VR, the patient is having fun and making effort at the same time – they are driven by internal motivation. This is a getaway from traditional rehab activities that often accompany them throughout the whole life.
How does WalkinVR work?
1. Entertainment in VR with the assistance of another person
When applicable: user has limited mobility, can’t press the buttons on VR controller – cerebral palsy, tetraplegia, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy
How does it work: Gameplay with assistance uses Xbox controller to emulate VR controller’s buttons and adjust the position in VR.
2. Virtual motion and rotation
When applicable: user has limited mobility – on wheelchair, bed-ridden
How does it work: Virtual movement and rotation feature is useful when the game requires you to kneel, stand, and turn 360 degrees. You can do it with your controllers.
3. Adjusting the position of the controller
When applicable: muscle weakness, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, stroke, cerebral palsy, tetraplegia
How does it work: Players can compensate for movement restrictions. For example, it helps those who cannot raise their controllers to the height required by the game.
4. Tracking of disabled or spastic hands
When applicable: can’t hold the controllers – spastic hands, hand impairment, cerebral palsy, tetraplegia
How does it work: Players don’t need to hold controllers anymore. Kinect detects hands with limited functionality or spasticity, so they can do the work of controllers.
What happens when a person exercises in Virtual Reality?
Any person, when exercising with virtual reality enhancement, is actually having real physical training, completing his physiotherapy done in the gym. It is an additional rehabilitation form. Among the participants, an interesting phenomenon is observed – a person focused on the tasks and quests of the virtual world game, is much bolder with physical movements both during the VR session, and later during functional therapy in the gym.
Avalon Foundation
(They have been using WalkinVR in their VR Game Room since 2018
What is required to play the game?
Requirements:
- SteamVR gaming platform on PC
- VR Ready PC or a Laptop
- PC-powered VR headset (like Oculus Rift S)
- Kinect 2.0 + Adapter
- Xbox Controller
VR Ready PC Specification:
- GTX 1060 graphics or higher
- Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or higher
- 8GB of RAM or more
