Experience What It’s like to Play Football with Visual Impairment in Swedish VR Game

How can a football player score - without being able to see the goal? In collaboration with eye specialist Sabina Andersson Geimer, Toyota Sweden and the Swedish Paralympic Committee have developed the world’s first virtual reality football game, which simulates different visual impairments. The aim of the VR-experience is to spread knowledge about visual impairments, and spark engagement for para-sports. 

In the game, which is the first of its kind, the player aims and shoots at a real football goal, while the experience of having visual impairment is simulated through a virtual reality experience. 

Visual impairments are categorised into three different rankings: B1, B2 and B3. To create a true understanding of what each type of impairment looks like, renowned Swedish eye specialist Sabina Andersson Geimer has participated in “translating” the different impairments for the VR game. 

 

Sabina Andersson Geimer, consultant at the Skåne University Hospital Eye Clinic and national qualifier of blind-sports, says: “I’ve worked with blind-sports a long time, and I’m still impressed by the accomplishments of these athletes. It’s not easy to visualize these impairments to people with full sight, but the result is far more realistic than I thought was possible. As far as I know, no one’s done a simulation of these impairments on this level before.”

With the use of Sabinas expertise and medical knowledge, the VR experience was developed with mathematical precision, to make sure the impairments will look realistic and lifelike.  

Fatmir Seremeti, captain of the Swedish National Goalball Team, says: “I think it’s a very thought through and smart way of showing an impairment, where you not only point to the impairment itself, but also show the possibilities that come with having a visual impairment. You don’t have to quit football, and you can absolutely be a part of - and achieve - amazing things, and experience the whole world.”

Toyota is a global sponsor of the Paralympics, and a sponsor of the Swedish Paralympic Committee, where a part of the Swedish sponsorship is to raise awareness for para-sports, to increase the number of active athletes. 

 

Erik Gustafsson, manager PR, external affairs & CSR at Toyota Sweden, adds: “The purpose of this game is to spread knowledge about how it’s really like to sport with a visual impairment, and to create understanding for the amazing athletes who practice Para sports.”

 

The public will be able to try the game out at several para-sport events during the year.