Mr Paul Schlosser1, Dr Ben Matthews1, Prof Penelope Sanderson1, Dr Sass Hayes2
1The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2Retrieval Services Queensland, Kedron, Australia
Head-worn displays (HWDs) are small computer screens that are mounted in the central or peripheral vision of the wearer. They can continuously provide information and offer high mobility, hands-free operation, and “see-what-I-see” features. Emergency medical services (EMS) could benefit from the unique characteristics of HWDs. Previous research, for example, investigated the use of HWDs to support triage and remote collaboration. However, it is still unclear which tasks in the prehospital environment might benefit the most from HWDs. Furthermore, it is unknown how the new technology affects work practices and quality of care.
In present program of research, we conducted a field study in collaboration with Retrieval Services Queensland and interviewed a total of 20 staff members (clinical coordinators, flight physicians, paramedics, aircrew). Based on their feedback, we propose three use cases for HWDs in the prehospital environment. They are (1) enhanced communication between different care providers, (2) hands-free access to clinical monitoring and imaging, (3) and improved realism of training scenarios.
In design workshops that followed the interviews, we developed paper prototypes of a HWD application that can superimpose annotations and procedural steps on the patient’s body and connect a physician in the field with a clinical coordinator so that they can provide assistance remotely. Furthermore, we established guidelines for the development of HWD applications for the prehospital environment. We propose that for their successful implementation stakeholders should consider, (1) the harsh outdoor environment in which HWDs will be used, (2) the extensive workload of staff, (3) the complex collaboration performed, (4) privacy requirements, and (5) the high variability of work.
In the final phase of this project, we will evaluate the developed HWD application in a simulation study. We will assess how effectively it can guide through complex procedures, by collecting performance data, situation awareness measures, and participant feedback.
Biography:
Paul Schlosser received his MSc degree in Human Computer Interaction from the Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg, Germany in 2018. He is currently working towards a PhD degree at The University of Queensland, Australia. During his studies, he designed and realised multiple healthcare augmented reality applications in collaboration with clinical experts in Europe and Australia. Paul’s other research interests include participatory design and human factors in safety critical systems.