Immersion without encumbrance: Adapting a virtual reality system for the rehabilitation of individuals with stroke and spinal cord injury

The purpose of this paper is to present results describing the use of a projected, video-based VR system in neurological rehabilitation. The first part describes the adaptation of several of the VividGroup's Gesture Xtreme projected VR scenarios (control of the type, speed, location and direction of all stimuli) and documentation of all subjects' performance. The second part of paper presents initial results in which the system is being used in a clinical study with stroke patients who display symptoms of left unilateral neglect and other cognitive deficits, with those who require balance training as a result of complete or incomplete spinal cord injuries, and young, non-speaking adults who have cerebral palsy and moderate mental retardation.