Promoting well-being in mobility-impaired individuals using VR

BA Digital Media student Finn Cruise has been using the extended reality classroom at HELIX to work on his final year project. His work focuses on using VR technology to support mental well-being for individuals with mobility impairments.

Finn, an enthusiastic hiker, has always turned to the outdoors to manage stress and anxiety. Wanting to share this benefit with others, he developed a VR hiking simulation specifically designed for people with mobility impairments. Through this simulation, Finn aims to provide an accessible way for others to experience the mental health benefits of outdoor exploration.

Location: HELIX XR Classroom

Aims: To create an outdoor VR simulation to relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, tailored to people with mobility impairments

Output: Finn empathises with those who have mobility issues and can't go on hikes to relieve stress as he can. To address this, he created a VR simulation that allows anyone to explore his favourite mountain trails virtually.

Impact: Finn's final year project benefited significantly from the high-spec PCs, software development tools, and VR headsets provided by HELIX. These facilities were essential for creating and testing Finn's outdoor exploration VR simulation.

Why did you choose HELIX for your project?

''I chose HELIX because of the equipment available. I could book out an Oculus Quest super easily and utilise the XR machine's high specs to render things a lot better and faster than I could with my laptop. I also really liked the sense of community there; everyone was lovely and helpful which helped me to achieve my goals.''

How did working in HELIX help you achieve your aims?

''The main thing was the tech. By using the machines with high-end GPUs and CPUs I was able to work a lot more efficiently. I could render faster, and the general workflow was smoother. Plus, the access to the VR headsets made it a lot easier. The monitors are great too, they provide a lot of space to allow for multiple tabs to be open at once!''

Do you have any advice to share from your HELIX experience?

''Make sure to book the equipment and the PCs in advance, they go super-fast. There were multiple times when I felt bad because someone was using a machine that I booked and then had to kick them off. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people, everyone is lovely and helpful so they might be able to help problem-solve with you! Also, HELIX offers free coffee so make sure to utilise that.''