Seeing the world through her daughter's eyes is "mind blowing," according to a mother who used virtual reality to comprehend her child's visual impairment.
Aibhilin, the seven-year-old daughter of Caroline Henderson, was identified as having nystagmus and ocular albinism at the age of 11 weeks.
A VR headset created in Belfast was "overwhelming," according to Caroline and her husband Carl.
They were able to see firsthand how frustrating Aibhilin's visual impairment was for her.
It was very overwhelming and made us realize how frustrating and dissimilar her world is from the way her dad and I see the world, according to Caroline.
"It made perfect sense why she can't read non-verbal social cues, which can be really frustrating in the classroom and on the playground. ".
Sara McCracken, a Belfast-based software developer whose twins were born at 29 weeks and declared blind at just 6 months, created the program.
Due to nystagmus and oculocutaneous albinism, Peter and Connie's eyes move side to side uncontrollably, reducing their vision.
Ms. McCracken wished for everyone to be aware of how those with visual impairments, such as her twins, see on a daily basis.
More than 30 eye conditions are simulated by the system in a variety of environments, including a classroom, a busy street, a bus, or a playground.
Ulster University and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast have experts on the team.
According to Ms. McCracken, "We've developed software that can be tweaked to create a variety of different eye conditions.".
"It's a really immersive way to give people who don't have clinical information or knowledge a really immersive impression of visual impairment," says the author.
It's very effective for parents to be able to comprehend and alter the way they speak up for their children, but it's also important for schools to comprehend the effects it has on kids in the classroom or playground and, beyond that, on adults who have visual impairments. ".
Caroline has a better understanding of Aibhilin's behavior thanks to the Empatheyes software.
According to her, by the end of the week, children with visual impairments frequently have deteriorated vision and require special parenting or educational techniques.
She says, "I think sometimes with visually impaired kids, you're just seeing the tip of the iceberg and not understanding what's underneath and driving that behavior.
"Aibhilin finds school the most difficult on Thursdays and Fridays.
But now that I understand her nystagmus and how she perceives the world, she is exhausted from having maintained her composure throughout the entire week.
Without using VR technology, I believe we would not be able to distinguish between the Aibhilin we have on a Monday and the Aibhilin we have on a Friday. ".
As a social enterprise, Empatheyes operates. The Innovation Factory in west Belfast serves as the team's home base.
In the UK and Ireland, its software is employed in educational institutions, medical facilities, and workplaces.
At the Vision 2023 conference in Denver the following month, it will be exhibited to a global audience.
According to Ms. McCracken, "The United States is a huge market and they don't have anything like it there.".
"The excitement from professionals over there is already high to see this VR system that we developed right here in Northern Ireland.
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