Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Mobility, Safety, and Equity for Persons with Vision Loss in Urban Environments.

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning and Design
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Accessibility Studies

Background:

• Limited understanding of accessibility challenges for individuals with vision loss (VL) among urban planners and designers.
• Need for innovative pedagogical tools to foster empathy and practical knowledge in inclusive design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in enhancing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of accessibility issues for persons with vision loss (VL).
• To assess the impact of VR-based experiential learning on urban professionals' confidence and commitment to inclusive design.

Main Methods:

• Development of a VR environment simulating vision loss and mobility challenges.
• Conducting a VR workshop with urban planners, designers, and architects in collaboration with NYC's Department of Transportation.
• Utilizing pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to measure changes in knowledge, confidence, and perception.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in participants' awareness of VL-related challenges impacting design guidelines.
• Demonstrated improvement in participants' confidence in addressing accessibility issues.
• Strong participant endorsement of VR as a valuable pedagogical tool for professional development and inclusive design.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality serves as an effective experiential learning platform for fostering empathy and understanding of vision loss.
• VR has the potential to reshape professional practices, enhance capacity building, and promote the integration of VL considerations into urban design.
• The study highlights VR's transformative potential in advancing equity and accessibility in urban environments.