Virtual reality shopping might sound like something from a futuristic space age - but in Bradford it is being used to help disabled people to cope with the stress of a trip to the supermarket.

A trial of 90 people with learning disabilities is being undertaken by clinical psychologist Glenda Wallace, using the hi-tech computer package to mimic a supermarket's rows and shelves in a bid to increase skills in the community.

And while some patients use the computer, others practise in a small mock-up store at the Listonshiels Centre in Bierley, which was funded with a grant - and a shopping basket - from the Tesco chain.

The trial aims to see whether using virtual reality is as effective as the more traditional teaching methods.

The computer displays supermarket aisles, and computer-users guide a trolley around using the mouse, clicking on items they want to "buy".

One of the advantages of the computer package, which was devised at Nottingham University, is that it can be used on lap-top computers almost anywhere, so it is simpler to teach shopping skills to people with learning disabilities anywhere in the district. The Bradford trial is one of the first in the country to test out virtual reality shopping.

"Everyone has to go to supermarkets," said Ms Wallace. "It's simple but very important to be able to shop. We have more people with learning disabilities living in the community and mixing with the rest of the community.

"We have people who have never been shopping on their own before and it gives confidence."

Some people in the trial are using the virtual reality package - which has the added benefit of giving them computer skills - while others either use a board game to learn about shopping or practise by walking with a basket around the mock mini-supermarket set out with packets of food and other goods on the shelves.

Everyone taking part in the research has an assessment test in a real supermarket before and after the training - they use a picture shopping list and Ms Wallace said she was also looking for skills other people use naturally, such as scanning the shelves to find the right thing and staying with the task until it is completed. The goods are taken to the till, where staff take them and return them to the shelves while an assessor sees how many of the things on the picture list the person has "bought" correctly, also timing the trip.

The research team chose Haq's supermarket, on Legrams Lane, partly because of the helpful approach from managers there but also because the team needed a store which would not change too much between assessments. Most other supermarkets would see huge alterations in the run-up to Christmas but not at Haq's.

Director Noor Ali said "We understand that the people want to lead a normal life just like we do. It's not easy for them, and we are the right size supermarket, they don't feel intimidated here."

She said some people taking part in the project were already shopping with their families, rather than staying at home during the weekly shop.

And Mrs Ali had talked to staff about the project and prepared them for it. "We let the staff know that the people would be coming in and to make them feel welcome and help if they needed anything. Especially the till staff, so they could give them that smile."

She had kept two aisles more or less the same throughout the trial, with the breakfast cereals, for example, being in exactly the same order with no variations each week.

The trial received approval from Bradford's ethics committee, which has to give the go-ahead to any research involving the use of humans. Ms Wallace said a similar virtual reality programme to teach road-crossing skills was turned down by the ethics committee which feared people would try to cross roads unaided when they were not skilled to do so.

All the data from numerous assessments and teaching sessions will be gathered together in March.

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