We’re virtually at the summit!
PEOPLE with limited vision are “climbing” their favourite mountains again, thanks to virtual reality headsets.
Jason Turnbull makes videos of his climbs on a 360-degree camera and shows it to visually impaired military veterans on VR headsets.
Keen climbers no longer able to make the ascent themselves have been overwhelmed by the experience, which they say is “like being back on the hills”.
Because the VR headset lenses are close to their eyes, the veterans can experience the video footage like everyone else.
Jason, who works at Sight Scotland Veterans Centre in Paisley, is working his way through the Monros – Scotland’s highest peaks.
He said: “I edit the footage and show the veterans when I come back, and they are saying it is absolutely unbelievable.”
Noreen Smith, a former army nurse who has macular degeneration, had to give up her hill walking due to her vision impairment.
She said: “The VR is just wonderful. It is just like you are back there again. It brings back so many happy memories for me. I can see the whole landscape, all the tremendous views. It really is like I am walking up the hills again.”
Jason was inspired to begin filming after watching 360-degree videos on YouTube.
“I thought ‘I can do better than that’. So I bought a 360-degree camera and took it up the hills with me.
“I then began showing the footage to the veterans who were keen walkers, and those who weren’t, and there was a very positive reaction.”
“I have been going around as many Munros as I can so they can come with me. I am starting with the centrally located ones, in and around Crianlarich, like Ben More and Stob Binnein.
“It is so rewarding to watch them and see their reaction.”