Wang Xiao, Liang Xuan, Yao Junyi, Wang Tingzhao, Feng Jianxin
Department of Special Education, School of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Xi'an MangYa School, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Int J Dev Disabil. 2021 Sep 22;69(4):524-532. doi: 10.1080/20473869.2021.1970938. eCollection 2023.
Virtual reality technologies (VRTs) present many characteristics that can facilitate learning, especially in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). The VRT head-mounted display (HMD) has recently shown significant technological improvement. This study aims to prove the suitability of the newer commercially available VRT HMDs used in interventions for adolescents with ID in China. To this end, we explored the acceptance, immersion, and negative effects for adolescents with ID in a series of virtual environments. Forty-nine adolescents with ID (33 boys and 16 girls, IQ < 70), aged 11 to 21, from three special schools participated in this study. Questionnaires, observations, and interviews were used to investigate their views while using a VR HMD. Our analysis found that most participants narrated a pleasant experience using HMD and a series of VR experiences and experienced a high level of immersion accompanied by low negative effects. In addition, our study found that the gender variable was independent of the acceptance of HMDs and the immersion experience. Overall, this study suggests that the HMD is accepted by most Chinese adolescents with ID; thus, its application has great potential in China.
虚拟现实技术（VRTs）具有许多有助于学习的特性，尤其是对于智障人士（ID）。虚拟现实头戴式显示器（HMD）最近在技术上有了显著改进。本研究旨在证明在中国，较新的商用VRT HMD用于智障青少年干预的适用性。为此，我们在一系列虚拟环境中探索了智障青少年对其的接受度、沉浸感和负面影响。来自三所特殊学校的49名智障青少年（33名男孩和16名女孩，智商<70），年龄在11至21岁之间，参与了本研究。通过问卷调查、观察和访谈来调查他们使用VR HMD时的看法。我们的分析发现，大多数参与者讲述了使用HMD和一系列VR体验时的愉快经历，并体验到了高度的沉浸感，且负面影响较小。此外，我们的研究发现性别变量与对HMD的接受度和沉浸体验无关。总体而言，本研究表明HMD被大多数中国智障青少年所接受；因此，其在中国的应用具有巨大潜力。
