Using a 3D hand motion controller in a virtual power wheelchair simulator for navigation-reaching

This study evaluated the use of a 6 degree-of-freedom hand motion controller as an interface for implementing a reaching component to the miWe powered wheelchair simulator. We determined concordance of task times, number of movements, and task behaviours between simulator (VR) and the real world (RW) in three navigation-reaching tasks. Task times and number of joystick and reaching movements were greater overall in VR than in RW. Collisions and reaching errors were more numerous in VR and 15 of 22 behaviours across three tasks were concordant between VR and RW. We concluded that PW users approached tasks with similar strategies in VR, but had more difficulty completing tasks, compared to RW.