Necessity is said to be the mother of invention. And sometimes PhD candidates can help that invention along, too. During this past year, MDTAP was lucky enough to have Brian Frey, a UMBC Human Centered Computing PhD candidate, intern with us. As he explored AT robotics projects, discussed the many merits of 3-D printers, and directly supported a variety of in-office projects, Brian was also busy finishing work on a more tangible project that would directly impact the lives of children who use wheelchairs.
Using the concepts of Second Life, an online gaming program, Brian developed a power wheel chair simulator for students with motor impairments at Kennedy Krieger. The 3D simulation program is operated with joysticks, in order to offer children a virtual environment in which they control an avatar to learn to better navigate around furniture, walls and pedestrians. With the guidance of an occupational therapist, this power chair driver’s education simulation program is a low cost, highly configurable solution to help children learn to better navigate in a power wheelchair, increasing self-esteem and independence.
To read the full abstract, “On Four Wheels with Second Life,” or learn more about this project, contact Brian Frey at frey1@umbc.edu.
