Wheelchair Training Virtual Environment for People with Physical and Cognitive Disabilities

Abstract

This paper introduces the virtual reality and Brain Computer Interface based environment for the powered wheelchair training of paralyzed persons. Virtual reality allows to create the environments in which users can navigate wheelchair without risk and flexibly. Brain Computer Interface devices allow to control things with EEG brain signals. In this study, we have developed the environments that are configured with virtual reality and EEG devices (Emotiv Epoc+). We have performed experiment on 16 subjects using different parameters and analyzed that virtual reality based environments can be significantly useful for the training of paralyzed persons. We observed significant improvement in wheelchair controlled by EEG signals using virtual reality based environments. Our results revealed that virtual reality based training of wheelchair controlled by EEG signal gives significantly positive feedback and results. Furthermore, improvement on Brain Computer Interface control is higher than manual control.