VR-Assisted Guide Dog Training: A 360{\deg} PanoHaptic System for Right-Hand Commands Analysis
Qirong Zhu, Ansheng Wang, Shinji Tanaka, Yasutoshi Makino, Hiroyuki Shinoda

TL;DR
This paper introduces a VR system with panoramic visuals and haptic feedback to improve guide dog training, enabling novices to practice commands accurately and repeatedly, thereby addressing trainer shortages.
Contribution
The paper presents a novel VR-based platform integrating visual and haptic modules to enhance guide dog training for novices, improving command accuracy and training efficiency.
Findings
Enhanced training accuracy through immersive VR environment
Improved command timing and expressiveness with haptic feedback
Potential to increase guide dog availability by reducing trainer dependency
Abstract
This paper presents a VR-based guide dog training system designed to assist novice trainers in understanding guide dog behavior and issuing appropriate training commands. Guide dogs play a vital role in supporting independent mobility for visually impaired individuals, yet the limited number of skilled trainers restricts their availability. Training is highly demanding, requiring accurate observation of the dog's status and precise command issuance, especially through right-hand gestures. While the trainer's left hand holds the harness to perceive haptic cues, the right hand is used to indicate directions, maintain attention, and provide comfort, with motion patterns varying by scenario and the dog's progress. Currently, novices learn mainly by observing experts or watching videos, which lacks immersion and makes it difficult to adopt the trainer's perspective for understanding behavior…
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