Duke Kunshan University

Myopic Bike and Say Hi: Games for Empathizing with the Myopic

This research explores the potential of virtual reality (VR) games to foster empathy in non-myopic individuals toward those living with varying degrees of myopia.

• Researchers developed two VR games, 'Myopic Bike' and 'Say Hi,' to simulate varying levels of myopia (low, moderate, and high) to foster empathy in non-myopic users by replicating daily challenges like cycling and social interaction.
• The games utilize four distinct visual simulation levels to represent myopia severity, ranging from no myopia to high myopia (defined as greater than 6.0 diopters).
• Initial playtesting with four participants across different myopia conditions indicated that the VR experience successfully created an engaging, non-judgmental environment for users to better understand the difficulties faced by those with visual impairments.