A study of the use of virtual reality headsets in Chinese adolescents with intellectual disability

Xiao Wang; Xuan Liang; Junyi Yao; Tingzhao Wang; Jianxin Feng

doi:10.1080/20473869.2021.1970938

A study of the use of virtual reality headsets in Chinese adolescents with intellectual disability

Int J Dev Disabil. 2021 Sep 22;69(4):524-532. doi: 10.1080/20473869.2021.1970938. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xiao Wang^{1

2}, Xuan Liang^{1

3}, Junyi Yao¹, Tingzhao Wang¹, Jianxin Feng¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Special Education, School of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
² Xi'an MangYa School, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
³ Xi'an Qizhi School, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Abstract

Background: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: Overall, this study suggests that the HMD is accepted by most Chinese adolescents with ID; thus, its application has great potential in China.

Keywords: Chinese adolescents; head-mounted display; intellectual disability; virtual reality technology.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China [grant number: 17XTY007], the Humanities and Social Sciences Fund of the Ministry of Education in China [grant number: 20YJA890019] and the Fundamental Research Funds For the Central Universities [grant number: 2020TS081].