Using virtual reality in the adaptation of environments for disabled people

This paper describes work on a computer aided design and visualisation toolkit for the adaptation of homes and workplaces for disabled people. The basis for this work comes from a number of case studies which used a prototype planning tool based on ordinary 3D modelling and drawing packages. These case studies highlighted the need for a 3D object library containing office furniture, mobility aids, building construction elements and so forth. Three further prototype tools have also been developed: a userfriendly design and visualisation tool for non-computists based on a 3D graphics API; a mannequin modeller; and a VR based design and visualisation tool.