Ontario's University of Guelph creates virtual reality game to teach kids about pedestrian safety

University of Guelph VR kids

Researchers at Ontario'south University of Guelph have developed a 3D virtual reality game aimed at teaching children about how to safely cross a street.

"Parents tend to overestimate their child's ability to navigate traffic safely," said lead researcher Barbara Morrongiello, director of the Child Development Research Unit at U of M, in a press argument. "Just the reality is that children aren't always familiar with the best strategies for how to cross safely, and information technology's a problem because parents are assuming kids are more competent than they are."

According to Morrongiello, this means that parents might let children to walk to school on their own before they're prepare to do and then safely.

That's where U of Chiliad's currently untitled VR game comes in.

Citing a recentJournal of Pediatric Psychology study, the U of G researchers noted that kids are more likely to cross a road safely after going through a pedestrian prophylactic program.

To start, researchers created a preparation plan that shows children where to cross the street in different settings, including a blind curve or between parked cars. The program besides teaches kids to look out for oncoming traffic and walk at crosswalks.

Kids will interact with the training plan with a VR headset and gaming controller. The game's world volition exist populated with trees, shadows and traffic noises to simulate a real environment.

Researchers will right any of the kids' errors past showing them the driver's perspective compared to their own indicate of view.

Looking forward, Morrongiello said she hopes to see the VR game brought to a larger audience.

"My promise is that we tin disseminate our preparation plan to schools, community centres and libraries," she said. "All it requires is a desktop computer or laptop, a game controller, and Oculus Rift goggles, which are all commercially bachelor items. It's conceivable that this could be delivered anywhere."

Source: University of Guelph