Khora created a beta version of the VR game “Cosmic Pilot VR”, designed specifically for people living with Cerebral Palsy. The game is designed for Meta Quest headsets, a stand-alone affordable headset. The game takes place in outer space, within the cockpit of a spaceship. The game features three in-game challenges designed to match suitable interactions based on user insights from workshops. What makes the game unique is the calibrating phase at the beginning of the game, with red spheres appearing in the cockpit. The player must reach out with their hands to reach the spheres and then new spheres appear. This process informs the game about the player’s range of motion and the game then customizes the level of difficulty to match that specific player’s physical functioning. The game comes in ten levels so players can progress in the game as they improve.

Every year 110-130 kids are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in Denmark (1-2 of every 1.000 kids). It is estimated that around 8.000-10.000 people are living with CP nationally and 17 million are living with CP globally. CP is caused by a disruption of the brain’s early development, which in more than 90% of cases is congenital. Citizens with CP are affected to varying degrees by paralysis that limits their physical abilities (degree 1-5, with 5 being the worst). Existing VR games do not take any physical limitations into consideration and are therefore completely or partially impossible to use for citizens with CP. Due to the physical limitations individuals with CP experience, it is necessary to develop a game that allows adaptations and changes in relation to both physical ability and strain. The VR game aims to motivate the individuals’ forward physical development and quality of life by challenging their mobility.

The brain has the ability and capacity to change (neuroplasticity). Neuroplasticity describes the ability of neurological networks to change through growth and reorganization. The brain is rewired to function in a way which differs from how it has previously functioned. This mechanism shows that the condition of CP can be improved but require specialized knowledge and the correct methods. Research shows that the brain’s neuroplasticity can be particularly affected by physical activity, and as the brain changes, the individuals with CP will become better at controlling their movements. As they gain confidence and develop their ability to control their movements, their quality of life will improve, as their ability to function on their own improve, decreasing their need for assistance.