Ad of the Day: The National Autistic Society unveils its ‘TMI’ virtual reality experience
The National Autistic Society (NAS) has created a virtual reality experience to offer viewers a unique insight into the sensory overload experienced by autistic people.
Building on the group's 'Can You Make it to the End' film that was developed in collaboration with the autistic community, London-based agency Don't Panic has helped NAS physically 'step in' to a world overloaded with too much information.
References included in the spot, like bright lights and muffled noises, are based on real experiences and feedback from autistic individuals.
The initial film has clocked up 54 million views and counting to date, and the VR integration will give users a more realistic insight into the overstimulation regularly experienced by autistic people in a seemingly normal situation, such as visiting a shopping centre.
Now, using Samsung Gear headsets, the immersive film will tour shopping centres around the UK in a bid to educate the general public about autism. The National Autistic Society will also be putting together a pack for schools to teach their students about autism using VR, and targeting politicians at the Conservative Party Conference in October.
“We launched our Too Much Information campaign in April because hundreds of thousands of autistic people are ending up isolated and lonely due to poor public understanding of autism," said Mark Lever, chief executive of NAS.
“To help the public understand a little more about autism, we’re really excited to be the first charity using virtual reality to demonstrate what this aspect of autism can feel, see and sound like. Virtual reality is such a fantastic medium and we want to use it to help people identify with a young autistic boy who is having a crisis in a shopping centre," he continued.
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