A year in the making, McLean Care and Deakin University launched their cutting edge, virtual reality driving simulator Hector VR on Wednesday.
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First designed by the McLean Care, and using a database of local streets, the unique project seeks to help seniors monitor their driving ability. Locals between 70-80 years have been testing the simulator, which is housed in a cut-down Holden Captiva, for months.
The project received a $726,000 investment by the federal government, and is already attracting interest overseas as it moves into the commercial stage.
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McLean Care chief executive officer Sue Thompson said it was “a fabulous feeling” to see the design realised.
“To actually see that happen, along with many other improvements which have been informed by the general public is just a fantastic thing, and it’s just wonderful for the older people of Inverell as well, and the local community in general,” she said.
The local aged care provider wanted to give older drivers the opportunity to test their reaction times and abilities in a virtual world to better inform any decision to stay on the road or relinquish their licence.
“We hear of a lot of older people that make a decision to relinquish their licence without actually understanding the total impact that that’s going to have on their lives. So they need to know really, is this the right choice to make, and Hector’s one way they can understand that choice,” Ms Thompson said.
She noted that driving and independence were closely linked, and felt Hector VR could help keep older drivers on the road longer, and as a result, keep them from entering aged care earlier than necessary.
“This is ground-breaking innovation, to enable senior Australians to live longer, better lives,” said Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt AM.
“The thought of giving up your licence and the extra independence that comes with driving yourself can be daunting for people as they age, particularly for those in rural and regional areas. However, we have to make sure it is safe for them to keep driving and this technology will help with that potentially lifesaving decision.”
“This technology will help us strike the right balance between retaining that independence and road safety,” Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said.
The prototype includes a fully modelled virtual reality version of Inverell’s streets, and a highway scenario similar to those in our area. Ms Thompson said the local streets allowed participants to test the driving conditions they expected to face day to day, instead of denting their confidence with unfamiliar surroundings.
“We want to get to the point somebody knows that the virtual reality environment isn’t real, but feels like it is,” Deakin University associate professor Ben Horan said.
He said creating a mixed reality scenario with a real car, complete with its seat and steering wheel, helped complete the immersion.
“The response throughout the project has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Horan said.
“The enthusiasm and the need for a product like this has been strong all the way through.”
McLean Care and Deakin University hope the simulator may become an alternative for young learner drivers to test various road and weather conditions.
“In our engagement with various stakeholders, they’ve raised time and time again that sometimes with learner drivers, parents are reluctant to put them in more challenging driving scenarios,like driving at speed, defensive driving, driving in severe weather -when in fact they should be experiencing those in the company of their parent or experienced driver,” Mr Horan said.
“Maybe virtual reality could help solve that problem for that particular group, as well as other driving tasks. We have the prototype, so we’re really interested in hearing from people who see needs for different groups and what that might look like going forward.”
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