University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada 10 January 1997

Occupational Therapy professors testing virtual reality technology

May be used for simulating driving test

By Michael Robb

Occupational Therapy professors are testing virtual reality software and equipment to determine whether it can be used for assessing people's driving abilities.

Working in conjunction with Vancouver company Imago Systems, the developers of DriVR, Lili Liu and co-investigator Masako Miyazaki are among the first occupational therapists on the continent to look at the use of virtual reality technology to simulate aspects of driving.

"Ultimately, the company wants a tool that can be used in the clinic to evaluate and monitor people's driving abilities or related skills," explains Dr Liu. "It could become a new method of clinical assessment."

Drivers wear visor-like headsets. DriVR allows the driver to travel around three-dimensional worlds, in this case a Dodge caravan; the driver uses a steering wheel, a brake and an accelerator. In effect, they see the road ahead and can see from side to side just by turning their heads. As the driver "drives down the road", the computer software tracks the driver's progress. Does the driver cross the middle line? Does the driver react quickly enough to stop signs?

While drivers are driving, the computer is generating data, recording such things as speed and tracking. "Still, even the best simulators are not as real as on-the-road driving assessments," says Dr Liu, pointing out that the team will be making a number of recommendations to the company for improving the software.

The U of A team is testing about 120 drivers. The team will report its findings to the company early this year. Their findings will be reported at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists conference in early June. The Occupational Therapy professors are assisted on the project by research assistants Lisa Kovacs, Oona Schreiner and Kirk Johnson.

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