Improvement of reality on input device for Virtual Walk System

In these days, elderly population is increasing in Japan. Demands on rehabilitation works might be larger as the old increase. In the authors´ laboratory, the virtual walk system has been designed and implemented. The system is intended to aid rehabilitation works with the virtual reality technology. Using commercially-supplied products, the proposed system is easy to be introduced to home with low costs and without occupying large space compared to the other rehabilitation systems introduced in the hospital. The present system supports a bicycle and a stepper, which enable cycling and walking exercises and moving in the virtual space. However, the conventional bicycle system didn´t support an operation to move right and left in the virtual space with its handlebar. Instead of operating it directly, users should operate a couple of switches mounted on the handlebar to move right and left. This has caused the unreality of using bicycle. In this study, the authors have improved a bicycle to enable an operation with a handlebar to move right and left in virtual space.