DEAKIN University engineers have developed a mixed reality driving simulator designed to help older drivers make informed decisions about their safety on the road.<\/p>\n
The university\u2019s School of Engineering recently completed the project for aged care provider Maclean Care, using a $726,000 grant from the federal government\u2019s Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund.<\/p>\n
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson inspected the project late last month with Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander at the Waurn Ponds campus\u2019 Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training.<\/p>\n
Professor den Hollander said the project demonstrated how Deakin engineers were forging new ground in the burgeoning field of \u201cmixed\u201d or \u201cextended\u201d reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeakin is committed to supporting the communities we serve and I am delighted to see that this particular project, developed with the aim of helping inform older drivers in decisions relating to their license, is taking advantage of the very latest technology so that we can just do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also a good example of just what is possible when you match research and development expertise with government support to provide solutions to industry and is not surprising that is already getting attention from around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lead designer Associate Professor Ben Horan said the first older driver simulator \u2013 named \u201cHector\u201d after McLean Care\u2019s first benefactor \u2013 could be the start of a fleet of adapted vehicles used in driver testing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity to work with McLean Care, and CEO Sue Thompson\u2019s team, to fulfil their vision for Hector has been an exciting journey and a really great example of how university and industry collaborations can yield such great outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to this simulator will give older drivers an idea of how they\u2019re performing over time, so it\u2019s great for people who are keen to maintain their independence but also keep an eye on how they\u2019re tracking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives users a simulated driving experience and afterwards provides a read out of their reaction time and some important health metrics like heart rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course this doesn\u2019t replace the need for an older driver to see their regular GP for accurate testing, but it can be a fun, easy and accessible way to check in initially.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DEAKIN University engineers have developed a mixed reality driving simulator designed to help older drivers make informed decisions about their safety on the road. The university\u2019s School of Engineering recently completed the project for aged care provider Maclean Care, using a $726,000 grant from the federal government\u2019s Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund. Minister for […]<\/p>\n