By Lilla Bogø Rasmussen,  Student Assistant at AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Translated by: LeeAnn Iovanni

The game "Hot Potato" was developed with Søren Jensen, who is blind.

- I've never done anything like this before! I enter a world where I’m in full control, says Søren Jensen, who otherwise feels left out of digital game development.

According to the three Master’s students, the game is innovative and unique because it draws on all elements of VR, not just the visual. There is a special focus on 3D sound where the blind person, with the help of sound stimuli, can move in the right direction. In addition, the blind person can hear different things, depending on which direction they turn their head.

In Denmark, approximately 30,000 people have a visual impairment. The three Master’s students, whose focus has been on increasing quality of life for blind people, see many opportunities in VR.

"We have demonstrated that blind people, using sound and vibration, can navigate and interact with an object. This can be used in the future both for entertainment and learning," says Master's student Maja Østergaard.

The game requires movement and interaction, which is unique and impressive for Søren Jensen as thus far he has only played digital games while sitting still. He had no idea that the virtual world existed.

"The game feels incredibly realistic and gives me a sense of space. It's groundbreaking," says Søren Jensen.

Read more about VR for the blind at dr.dk (in Danish)