Experience in VR the sensory overload a boy with autism feels every day

LONDON -- The clicking of heeled shoes on the floor. The flickering of lights above. The sounds of everyday life which many people simply don't notice can be overwhelming for someone who is on the autism spectrum.

Now everyone can feel what this is like with the National Autistic Society's virtual reality experience. It's a remake of their video about a boy with autism who becomes overwhelmed in a shopping centre with his mother. In the VR experience, you are seeing the situation through the boy's eyes.

Autism is "a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people and how they experience the world around them," the society says.

In the 360-degree video, you can look around and see and hear the different sensations. For the VR experience, you can download the app here and view the film with Google Cardboard.

The charity hopes that the medium of VR will effectively communicate the experiences of someone with autism, and that the public will respond with empathy.

“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," said Mark Lever, chief executive of the charity, in a release sent to Mashable.

"You can just show someone inside your head!"

Alex Marshall, the 10-year-old boy, was thrilled to star in the film. “I’ve loved being part of the National Autistic Society’s film, it was like winning the lottery twenty gazillion times and I’m really excited about the VR so I can show my friends how things feel for me.

“It really helps when people understand things, and this is a really cool way to do it – you can just show someone inside your head!" he said.

As part of its Too Much Information campaign, the charity will be showing the VR experience at sites around the UK, and providing a schools pack with a lesson plan about autism.

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