Halifax’s MARS VR Lab has begun clinical testing for a virtual reality hardware and software suite that gamifies the process of teaching children how to operate motorized wheelchairs.
The technology, dubbed the XPOD, uses a virtual reality headset and joystick. Players enter a fantasy world that they navigate using the joystick, developing the same fine motor skills they need to control a wheelchair.
The company is testing its system with the help of the IWK Health Centre’s Dr. Jordan Sheriko and occupational therapist Scott Thieu. This week marks the first time a real patient has tried the