Taking into consideration that it was so difficult to get the team together to train, we developed a virtual training routine that gives them the opportunity to improve their technique in their own homes. We chose VR over other technologies because it gives the same sensations as training on-site. To be as accurate as possible, our experience design team worked with the national team coach to polish every single detail and to be able to provide the players with an experience that allows them to really improve on the field. The VR platform was developed in Unity3D and the joystick is powered by Arduino and the Xbox 360 joystick.

We met several times with the team members to interview them on which aspects of the sport they really need help with, and closely studied the physics of the electric wheelchair to make a proper simulation. Some of the team members loaned us their chairs, which we used to build the final 3D model used in the simulation. We drove the chairs ourselves to understand how it behaves under many different types of situations (e.g.: slow turns, fast turns, kicking the ball, reverse and turn, etc.) and used our research to simulate the experience as accurately as possible.

This extremely important research process took us approximately 2 weeks worth of work, plus an additional two weeks of development and refinement. The players' input – we met many times at every step of the process – was essential in order to make the simulation feel as true to the actual sport.

• This project caught the attention of many different TV shows, radios, websites, and blogs, and was publicized widely on social media.

• It garnered a publicity value of $92,042 USD according to Cision media.

• FIPFA is looking to eventually implement these types of tech tools on a global scale.

• This unconventional VR training tool gives Argentina a strategic advantage in the growth of this sport.

This project is an example of how VR technology was successfully used to to solve a real problem. It allowed the Argentine national wheelchair team players to effectively train and, not only improve their results, but also increase their self-esteem. Thanks to this VR training platform, they overcame many team practice obstacles and logistical difficulties which had been limiting their training sessions to just once a month. This same idea can be adapted to other sports for physically challenged people.

Our target for this platform was Powerchair team. The players have a very specific set of needs regarding training that we kept at the core of our thinking. Fulfilling those needs would not only make training much more accessible, but would help the team get the winning results that would attract media attention and future players to participate in the sport.

With this mindset, we set out to approach the problem with a design solution. Using human-centered design, we built our environment around information provided by the players, which helped us leverage their knowledge of the game and include it in the digital experience with maximum fidelity, so it feels as real as possible. This functional system utilizing a relatively new platform can be replicated very easily to scale.

Powerchair is an NGO which gives people in wheelchairs the chance to participate in Argentina’s most popular sport, football. Initially, players would get together to play soccer with their motorized wheelchairs. These players often have little to no mobility, and need to be accompanied to their training sessions. The national squad players live far from one another, making it difficult to consistently practice together. Since not many people know about this NGO, it takes a lot of effort for them to achieve their goals. These difficulties impeded their growth as a team and did not allow them to improve effectively.

• Brief

Fundación PCFA (Power Chair Football Argentina) wanted to raise awareness about this organization and to position it as a sports team, rather than a charity.

• Objectives

-Help PCF players overcome obstacles for their training players.

-Improve the Powerchair Football Argentine Team’s technique and results.

-Boost the players’ self-esteem.