Virtual Reality Based Testing of Power Wheelchair Driving Skills

Study Summary

The purpose of this research study is to examine whether computer based or virtual reality based driving assessments are as useful as real-world power wheelchair driving tests in measuring driving performance and whether they may be useful in helping to identify the problems that some individuals may have with driving power wheelchairs. The specific aims are as follows: Specific Aim 1: To develop computer-based and VR-based wheelchair driving assessments for both drivers and non-drivers that correspond to an accepted real-world driving assessment (Power Mobility Road Test) and compare them to the real-world assessment and to each other. Specific Aim 2: To develop additional features of the computer-based and VR-based assessments that present dynamic tasks and determine whether skills on these tasks can be delineated within the virtual environment.

Primary Outcome

The computer-based and the virtual environments will be modeled after and scored similarly to the real world PMRT. The PMRT contains two domains: Structured Elements/Tasks and Unstructured Skilled Driving. The first domains contain 16 tasks that include activities such as passing through standard width doorways, and turning a ninety-degree turn, turning 180 degrees. In both domains, each task is scored from 1 to 4, depending on speed and the number of collisions that occur with obstacles. A tota

Interventions

• OTHER Power Mobility Road Test (PMRT)