Power wheelchair manufacturer Bandagist Heindl is on board with you. Did you also include feedback from power wheelchair users in your design?
Hofer: Of course, that goes without saying! Wheelchair users were involved in this process right from the start as part of the requirements analysis and the iterative design and evaluation approach [a series of steps that you repeat, tweaking and improving your product with each cycle; editor’s note] pertaining to the first prototypes and the pilot phase. We involved children and adults, both with and without learning disabilities, long-term electric wheelchair users, and persons who have recently started rehabilitation.
WheelSim VR will be released in both a home and a Pro version. What is the difference between the two options?
Hofer: WheelSim Home targets individual users and comes in at a lower price without personal consultations and evaluation tools. WheelSim Pro is mainly directed at institutions such as schools, therapy centers, and wheelchair providers that want to work with multiple people and seek an evaluation and assessment. The latter option includes personal consultations and training logs and the chance to review, discuss and evaluate the recorded sessions afterwards.
What are some other feasible applications or positive effects of WheelSim VR?
Hofer: Apart from the training possibilities, the therapeutic review and assistance with power wheelchairs, WheelSim VR can help as a simulation to also make the perspective and challenges of power wheelchair users more accessible and tangible for people without disabilities and subsequently train and increase their empathy.