THE AUGMENTED ANESTHESIA MACHINE

University of Florida, Virtual Experiences Research Group (VERG) THE AUGMENTED ANESTHESIA MACHINE Description: The purpose of this project is to determine how Mixed Reality impacts learning by applying mixed reality technology to an important problem in anesthesia machine education. To learn about anesthesia machines, anesthesiology students first use a 2D abstract simulation called the Virtual Anesthesia Machine (VAM). Then they move on to practicing with a real machine. However, there is some learning disconnect between the simulation and the real machine. Components are located in different places, and the student can no longer visualize the gas particles and the mechanics of the machine.  The Augmented Anesthesia Machine (AAM) helps students to make the cognitive connection between the VAM and the real machine anesthesia machine. The AAM uses mixed reality technology to provide an in-context visualization of the VAM simulation components; the AAM superimposes the VAM simulation directly over the real machine. Students can view this simulation on a magic lens, which acts as a window into the virtual world of the simulation. The lens allows the student to walk freely around the machine while viewing the simulation from a first-person perspective. The student’s interaction with the real machine affects the visualization of the simulation on the lens. Thus, the AAM will help students to gain a better understanding of how their interaction with the real machine affects the machine’s inner workings, as visualized by the simulation, thereby improving their knowledge transfer into real world domains Team Members: University of Florida, College of Engineering Benjamin Lok, Assistant Professor Paul Fishwick, Professor John Quarles, Graduate Student University of Florida, Department of Anesthesiology Samsun Lampotang, Professor University of Florida, Department of Psychology Ira Fischler, Professor Image Captions (on reverse): Top Left: The Virtual Anesthesia Machine (VAM) – a widely used 2d abstract simulation of an anesthesia machine. Top Right: The Augmented Anesthesia Machine – combining the VAM with the real anesthesia machine. Bottom Left: A student uses the magic lens to visualize the invisible gas flows of the Bottom Right: Students can interact with the real anesthesia machine and visualize how their interactions affect the in-context VAM simulation. http://www.cise.ufl.edu/research/vegroup/aam