A Practical Example Using VR in the Assessment of Brain Injury

R C Davies,K Boschian,A Lindé,U Minör,B Sonesson,G Johansson

doi:10.20870/ijvr.1999.4.1.2662

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) as a complementary tool for medical practitioners in the assessment and rehabilitation of people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is discussed. A pilot-study has been undertaken on a prototype VR assessment tool. The design involved nine occupational therapists with expertise in the care of traumatic brain injured patients and one (computer experienced) patient. The aim was to begin a dialogue and to ascertain the potential of a VR system. A common method for occupational therapists to assess function and ability is to ask a patient to brew coffee. From the performance of such a task, an individual's "functional signature" can be determined. The prototype was built using Superscape, a personal computer based VR system, to be close to the real coffee making task, including effects of making mistakes, realistic graphics and sound effects. The world was designed to be as easy to use and intuitive as possible, though problems of mental abstraction level, transfer of training and realistic interaction have yet to be resolved. The comments from the test participants have highlighted problem areas, given positive insight and pointed out other scenarios where VR may be of use in the rehabilitation of people with a traumatic brain injury.

Highlights

Virtual Reality (VR) has shown great potential in various training and visualisation fields
Training using VR could help to alleviate the problems of under-stimulation during recuperation by providing continuous and early sensory stimulation (Rose, 1996)
The tool was designed as a stand-alone assessment tool whereas a more constructed tool, more likely to be accepted by the medical profession, would be as an aid to the rehabilitation expert in an assessment situation

Summary

Introduction

Virtual Reality (VR) has shown great potential in various training and visualisation fields. A few groups, notably; Andrews et al (1995), Rose (1996), Pugnetti et al (1995) and Rushton et al (1996) have shown that VR technology can provide new and useful techniques for rehabilitation. Training using VR could help to alleviate the problems of under-stimulation during recuperation (so called fourth level damage - degeneration of brain tissue due to an impoverished environment) by providing continuous and early sensory stimulation (Rose, 1996). Though the results seem positive, many questions are left open as to the relevance of the task breakdown, transfer of training from VR to reality, usefulness, usability and comparison with existing assessment techniques. The tool was designed as a stand-alone assessment tool whereas a more constructed tool, more likely to be accepted by the medical profession, would be as an aid to the rehabilitation expert in an assessment situation

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Conclusion