April 12th 2023.
Veterans who have lost part of their sight are being given an incredible opportunity to continue their passion for hillwalking, thanks to virtual reality! Jason Turnbull, who works at Sight Scotland Veterans' Hawkhead centre in Paisley, has been taking 360-degree photographs during his own walks on Scotland's hills, and then sharing them with the veterans using VR goggles.
He shared, “I had experience with VR headsets, so I was very keen to try it at Hawkhead. I watched 360-degree videos on YouTube and thought to myself ‘I can do better than that’. I bought a 360-degree camera and took it up the hills with me, and the veterans' reaction has been incredibly positive - they said it was ‘like being back on the hills’.”
Jason has been travelling to as many Munros as he can, so that the veterans can join him. He edits the footage and then shows it to the veterans when he returns, and they are amazed. He explains, “It’s reawakening something in them, and it’s so rewarding to watch their reactions. It triggers all those memories and sparks positive feelings within them.”
Noreen Smith, a former army nurse who has macular degeneration and is a regular attendee of the Hawkhead centre, shared, “The VR is just wonderful, it’s like I am back there again. I can see the whole landscape, all the tremendous views. It really is like I am walking up the hills again.”
The incredible technology of VR is giving these veterans the chance to reconnect with their passion for hillwalking, and it's wonderful to see the positive effect it has had on them. Read more stories on Scottish Field's outdoors pages, and don't miss the May issue of Scottish Field magazine.
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