They learn how to move around and avoid obstacles in a virtual setting before putting these into practice in the real world. They wear a head mounted display (HMD) and use an input device such as a joystick or trackball.
This is useful in the design of buildings with disabled access as a means of testing prototypes before they are built. The aim is to see if the wheelchair user can successfully negotiate their way around a building and if not, what the potential hazards are.
The aim of this technology is to enable the disabled to lead an independent life wherever possible and to interact with others. Virtual reality can teach them basic skills which able bodied people often take for granted but nevertheless, are still important for day to day living. These include cooking, shopping and other household tasks.
The aim is to boost confidence and self-esteem thereby leading to improved quality of life. The disabled person is able to engage with society and feel a sense of value from doing so.
Learning in a virtual world: experience with using second life for medical education.
Virtual worlds are rapidly becoming part of the educational technology landscape. Second Life is one of the best known of these environments. Although the potential of Second Life has been noted for health professions education, a search of the world's literature and of the World Wide Web revealed a limited number of formal applications of Second Life for this purpose and minimal evaluation of educational outcomes. Similarly, the use of virtual worlds for continuing health professional development appears to be largely unreported.