University of Technology Sydney Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, Sydney, Australia.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2024 Jan;19(1):90-99. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2022.2063423. Epub 2022 Apr 20.
Virtual reality (VR) lends itself to communication rehabilitation by creating safe, replicable, and authentic simulated environments in which users learn and practice communication skills. The aim of this research was to obtain the views of health professionals and technology specialists on the design characteristics and usability of a prototype VR application for communication rehabilitation.
Nine professionals from different health and technology disciplines participated in an online focus group or individual online interview to evaluate the application and use of the VR prototype. Data sources were analysed using a content thematic analysis.
Four main themes relating to VR design and implementation in rehabilitation were identified: (i) designing rehabilitation-focused virtual worlds; (ii) understanding and using VR hardware; (iii) making room for VR in rehabilitation and training; and (iv) implementing VR will not replace the health professional's role.
Health professionals and technology specialists engaged in co-design while evaluating the VR prototype. They identified software features requiring careful consideration to ensure improved usability, client safety, and success in communication rehabilitation outcomes. Continuing inclusive co-design, engaging health professionals, clients with communication disability, and their families will be essential to creating useable VR applications and integrating these successfully into rehabilitation. Implications for rehabilitationHealth and technology professionals, along with clients, are integral to the co-design of new VR technology applications.Design of VR applications needs to consider the client's communication, physical, cognitive, sensory, psychosocial, and emotional needs for greater usability of these programs.Realism and authenticity of interactions, characters, and environments are considered important factors to allow users to be fully immersed in virtual simulations to enhance rehabilitation.
虚拟现实（VR）通过创建安全、可复制和真实的模拟环境，为沟通康复提供了条件，使用者可以在这些环境中学习和练习沟通技巧。本研究旨在了解健康专业人员和技术专家对沟通康复用 VR 原型应用程序设计特点和可用性的看法。
来自不同健康和技术学科的 9 名专业人员参与了在线焦点小组或个人在线访谈，以评估应用程序和 VR 原型的使用情况。使用内容主题分析对数据源进行分析。
确定了与康复中 VR 设计和实施相关的四个主要主题：（i）设计以康复为重点的虚拟世界；（ii）了解和使用 VR 硬件；（iii）为康复和培训腾出 VR 空间；以及（iv）实施 VR 不会取代健康专业人员的角色。
健康专业人员和技术专家在评估 VR 原型时参与了共同设计。他们确定了需要仔细考虑的软件功能，以确保提高可用性、客户安全和沟通康复结果的成功。继续进行包容性的共同设计，让有沟通障碍的客户及其家人以及健康专业人员参与其中，对于创建可用的 VR 应用程序并成功将其整合到康复中至关重要。
健康和技术专业人员以及客户是新 VR 技术应用共同设计不可或缺的一部分。设计 VR 应用程序需要考虑客户的沟通、身体、认知、感官、心理社会和情感需求，以提高这些程序的可用性。互动、角色和环境的逼真度和真实性被认为是重要因素，可以让用户完全沉浸在虚拟模拟中，从而增强康复效果。
