Virtual Reality Grocery Shopping Simulator: Development and Usability in Neurological Rehabilitation

Abstract

Few virtual reality programs have been designed to retrain performance of activities of daily living for people undergoing neurological rehabilitation. This is despite the advantages of using this type of approach, including task-specific practice of meaningful and relevant activities. This paper summarizes the development of a grocery shopping simulator which uses a novel approach to interaction between the user and the program. The shopping simulation program underwent usability testing with patients participating in neurological rehabilitation. The results indicated that patients found the program easy and enjoyable to use and felt it would be a useful part of a rehabilitation program.