Charisma.ai powers accessible VR experience

Charisma Team, the author of this post

Charisma Team

04 Jul 2022

The trailer for the "Accessible Lives" VR experience

We're thrilled to announce that the Charisma-powered, accessible VR experience, "Accessible Lives", will be touring the UK this summer with StoryTrails.

“Accessible Lives” explores 100 years of tech for people with disabilities, and tells the real stories of some of its users. Users meet interactive avatars, examine 3D models of devices, and explore archive footage of assistive innovations through the decades.

With funding from StoryFutures Academy, and using BBC and British Film Institute (BFI) archive footage, Charisma worked with our creative designer Simon Daw and our academic adviser Dr Anica Zeyen to pioneer multiple levels of accessibility in VR. Our experience is available captioned and audio described. It's a seated experience that can be navigated using either the left or right hand.

Try it out at a StoryTrails location this summer! See the StoryTrails website for more information on dates and venues: https://story-trails.com/about/vr-experiences/

A blue tablet displaying the question “Which object would you like to find out about next?”, and a controller selecting “Wheelchair”. Behind them, an avatar on a laptop screen, and an exoskeleton model.

An image from the experience showing the user interface design.

An exoskeleton, a painting of a horse on an easel, a hands-free computer navigational device, and a motorised wheelchair, all in a row.

An image from the experience showing 3D models of some assistive devices.