Accessible Home Designer

A brief description of the project and its objectives.

Client

Occupational Therapy, Tung Wah College

Year

2023-present

Expertise

VR, Accessible ergonomics, Medical

End User

Occupational Therapist Students

The Challenge:
In Hong Kong, the intersection of extreme spatial constraints and an aging population creates a unique challenge for Occupational Therapists. Modifying a public housing unit for a person with a disability requires more than just clinical knowledge—it requires the ability to visualize complex architectural changes within a confined, high-density environment.

The Solution:
Angry Shiba Studio developed the Accessible Home Designer (AHD) — a high-fidelity VR simulation platform that serves as a "living laboratory" for OT students.
We meticulously recreated the exact floor plans and architectural standards of Hong Kong Public Housing. AHD allows students to enter a virtual replica of a real Hong Kong home, experience the daily struggles of a patient with a disability, and perform real-time modifications—from bathroom widening to kitchen height adjustments—all while adhering to strict local housing regulations.

The Human Side of the Tech:
AHD is not just a building tool; it is an empathy engine.

  • Context-Aware Learning: 
    Students don't just "drag and drop" furniture; they solve spatial puzzles based on real-world Hong Kong case studies.
  • Clinical Validation: Every modification is checked against the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) standards, ensuring that what is built in the virtual world is viable in the physical one.
  • Impactful Outcomes: By mastering these modifications in VR, future OTs can improve the safety and independence of thousands of residents in the physical world.

The Impact:
Currently deployed at Tung Wah College, AHD has revolutionized how OT students bridge the gap between textbook standards and the complex urban realities of Hong Kong. We are vitalizing the system of home care, one virtual modification at a time.

Aeronautical & Airline Operation Training

One of our originated in-house products. We collaborate with aviation professionals including pilots and cabin crew to develop a VR Training program. Our VR training software is specifically designed to assist training of crew members on a wide range of skills and procedures including safety and emergency training, in-flight services, aviation security training etc. It offers an immersive and engaging experience that allows users to interact with various scenarios in a realistic and intuitive way. Those scenarios could be tailor-made according to airlines operating procedures and requirements. In conjunction with traditional training methods, it can help crew members learn and retain information effectively.

This VR A320 Ditching Demonstration was inspired by air crash accident of Asiana 214 at San Francisco International Airport on 6th July 2013. This VR demo is simulating a scenario of the empennage section of the aircraft was torn off during ditching. The user is acting as a cabin crew member stationed at AFT Passenger/Emergency Door. Please note that the procedure shown in the video is not the exact one recommended by Airbus, but for illustrating the idea on how training could be done in Virtual Reality (VR) environment.

 

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Accessible Home Designer on GIES 2023

Accessible Home Designer on GIES 2023

https://2023.gies.hk/en/expo/exhibition-products/detail/1605.html