Enhancing Empathy for Visual Impairments: A Multi-Modal Approach in VR Serious Games

Abstract

Visual impairments significantly impact individuals' ability to perceive their surroundings, affecting everyday tasks and spatial navigation. This study explores SEEK VR,s a multi-modal virtual reality game designed to foster empathy and raise awareness about the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. By integrating visual feedback, 3D spatial audio, and haptic feedback, the game provides an immersive experience that helps participants understand the physical and emotional struggles of visual impairment. The paper includes a review of related work on empathy-driven VR games, a detailed description of the design and implementation of SEEK VR, and the technical aspects of its multimodal interactions. A user study with 24 participants demonstrated significant increases in empathy, particularly in empathy and willingness to help visually impaired individuals in real-world scenarios. These findings highlight the potential of VR serious games to promote social awareness and empathy through immersive, multi-modal interactions.