Laboratory training is a complex and labor-intensive process. The quality of laboratory procedure execution is critical for scientific validity, clinical utility and the overall safety of laboratory workers. Over the past few years Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR, AR), or in combination, Mixed Reality (MX) technologies have been a subject of great interest in the training community for the realism and interactivity provided. Evidence is emerging from published studies that AR/VR simulators provide high fidelity training experiences as well as instantaneous, unbiased, and valid assessment of technical skills for scientific and health related fields. Virtual reality training contributes to the development of skills relevant for real procedures and might shorten the learning curve for new procedures. VR training sessions can build familiarity with work environments, equipment and proper procedures can and build competency through retention prior to or in combination with traditional training. VR provides a digital environment in which the user interacts as if it in the real world. The more recent technology development, Augmented Reality (AR), has begun to prove a powerful tool for delivering complex curricula content in supportive and interactive way as well as offering intraprocedural guidance. AR differs from VR because the focus of the interaction of the performed task is within the real world instead of the digital environment. Thus, AR offers the opportunity of a digital, often interactive overlay onto a real environment. These layers of the virtual and physical environment are combined in a way that an immersive, interactive environment is experienced by the user. AR may have a strong potential in public health and clinical laboratory personnel in remote, low resource areas where infectious disease outbreaks or other medical crises occur. In the recent past the cost and complexity of developing virtual and augmented reality simulators limited their widespread distribution. This is quickly changing as commercial AR and VR technologies become more affordable and available to organizations and the public. We propose this innovative continuum of AR android smartphone/tablet applications for introductory education and orientation, and companion, immersive VR simulators for laboratory skills and procedures training. These along with the innovated ?closed-loop? AR technologies developed by Tietronix for NASA over the past 10 years adds a dimension of procedural oversight, insuring not only effective execution, but also correct outcomes of laboratory procedures. These tools present digital environments where trainees can learn about laboratory equipment and standard operating procedures quickly and correctly, thereby enabling rapid creation of an effective laboratory workforce. The envisioned tools can be matured in Phases II and III to a platform where instructional designers themselves can create newer, novel VR and AR based laboratory training materials that can be deployed on commercially available VR/AR hardware platforms (including mobile, smartphone and tablets). These tools could be quickly setup or distributed in new laboratories, field-based clinics or remote, austere environments without software programming or the need for computer expertise. The Phase I R&D activities will investigate the feasibility, and then pilot an integrated toolset of AR and VR Training applications for the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Global Health Initiative?s Smart Pod ?shipping container,? rapid-deploy clinic. Tietronix will utilize instructional material from BCM for a select set of procedures and practices to create virtual/augmented reality version of these procedures, along with 3D, interactive models of equipment, devices and instrumentation in the Smart Pod laboratories. The use of the Augmented Reality tools will enable trainers/educators to provide enhanced situational awareness during the laboratory procedures training by overlaying additional information such as instructions or graphical cues on top of the target system views (for example, operation or maintenance of complex laboratory equipment).
The proposed research project is designed to leverage Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies (?mixed reality?) to develop a suite of AR and VR resources to efficiently teach good laboratory practices, standardized procedures (SOPs), and skills necessary to calibrate, maintain and operate laboratory equipment. Proper use of PPE, general safety practices, and bio-hazard containment/mitigation can be taught along with SOPs using a suite of mixed reality tools for efficient orientation and training, immersive practice/simulation, and just-in-time intra- procedural support. Our proposed mixed-reality training suite system will use common smartphone/tablets, home-base and field deployable VR systems, and low-cost, lightweight AR systems for just-in-time support.
