VIDEO: Wetroom virtual reality experience by Impey proves popular with healthcare professionals
UK wetroom manufacturer Impey showcased a ground-breaking journey into the future of wetroom adaptations at the OT Show in November 2022.
Using virtual reality technology, Impey welcomed attendees into their 4D showering experience, creating an immersive vision of bathroom adaptations of the future.
Visitors to the show were also able to enjoy an informative talk focused on level access and wetroom showering hosted by Impey’s Technical Field Manager, Shaun Hunt. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in the bathroom sector, Shaun shared knowledge of adapted showering products, building regulations, technical specification and usability.
At the OT Show, Impey’s showcase “pushed boundaries of traditional accessible design” and brought the occupational therapy community an insight into the adapted wetrooms of the future. Visitors to the Impey stand were able to view the opportunities which it offers both occupational therapists (OTs) and end users.
Using virtual reality software, OTs were able to step inside Impey’s visionary showering spaces which combine elegant, ergonomic solutions with practicality, convenience, and quality.
The expansive portfolio of products on display included: high performance wetroom floor formers, shower trays with graded slip resistance, multi-function grab rails, glass shower screens and modern shower seating.
The software that powered the VR experience will also provide the ability to create high resolution, full-colour 3D renders and augmented reality for everyday OT surveys. The surveying team can then create a realistic vision of accessible showering, which benefits everyone involved in the process, from OTs and service users to landlords and installers.
Over the course of the exhibition OTs and people from across the accessible living community were able to partake in a demonstration of Impey’s VR technology.
Dr Rachel Russell, Senior Regional Advisor at Foundations, said: “I feel that the main benefit of VR technology is helping older and disabled people visualise the adaptations they will be getting.
“However, given the financial implications of getting the design of an adaptation wrong, I believe occupational therapists should consider how this type of technology can be used as part of the assessment and design process for adaptations, particularly in complex cases.
“As occupational therapists, the only time we know if an adaptation will be successful is once it is installed, which is too late in the process if we have got it wrong. Having used the technology, I can see how being immersed in the virtual adaptation gives me a better sense of whether the design has achieved a good fit between the person and the environment being adapted.
“This ‘person environment fit’ level of detail is often difficult to interpret from 2D or even 3D CAD drawings.”
Said Chris Kingaby, Product and Marketing Director at Impey: “The feedback has been fantastic. The OTs we met at the show enjoyed the experience and thought about how our VR offering could affect their working life, their clients and how it could service them better.
Impey has always been at the forefront of innovation. We want to give OTs, specifiers and end users confidence; by showing them exactly what their room will look like before it’s even been installed. This is just the start of an evolution.”
Impey’s accredited CPD sessions tailored for OTs and technical specifiers will continue to be hosted by Shaun throughout 2023, the CPD courses are free of charge and can be booked by contacting the team at: adaptations@impeyshowers.com
See the video below to find out more about Impey’s Immersive reality experience:
