A Virtual Platform for Overground Manual Wheelchair Navigation: a Controlled Ecological Approach for Exploring Wheeled Mobility

The overall aim of this research was to establish proof of concept for using the locally developed Large overground virtual suite (LOGvs) to explore manual wheelchair (MWC) mobility. The primary objective was to evaluate acceptability (system usability, presence, and confront) of LOGvs. The secondary objective was to explore visuolocomotor strategies used by able-bodied adults to circumnavigate a virtual pedestrian during MWC use versus bipedal walking. Using a controlled laboratory design, 15 participants completed multiple trials in LOGvs interacting with static and dynamic virtual pedestrians. LOGvs was acceptable, with participants reporting a high level of presence and perceived usability and a low level of cybersickness. Circumnavigation strategies were similar between bipedal walking an MWC use for clearance and deviation, as seen in previous research. Small differences observed during circumnavigation between MWC use and walking, such as looking less at the environment and more at the floor when using a MWC, may be attributed to the fact that participants were novice in MWC use. LOGvs seems to be an ecological and acceptable way to explore MWC mobility that may have future implications for evaluation and training.