The research project called MED1stMR (Medical First Responder Training using a Mixed Reality Approach) aims to better prepare medical first responders for stressful and highly complex disaster situations by developing advanced mixed-reality (MR) medical training with haptic feedback for enhanced realism.
Increasing probabilities for natural disasters due to climate change, human-made accidents and terrorist threats require the development of innovative technological solutions adapted and implemented to the (cross-sectoral) needs of first responders.
A mixed-reality training system that provides close-to-reality training allows the practice of medical action routines and thus helps to form confidence in action, faster reaction and coping strategies. Training in such MR environments will improve first responders’ resilience and effective performance in medical emergencies in highly complex and unpredictable situations.
To support, assist and personalise medical first responder training, MED1stMR will integrate wearable technology for monitoring trainees’ physiological data. The smart electronic devices developed in the project can detect and transmit information regarding bio-signals informing about the trainees’ physiological status. This will provide insight for the debriefing sessions and can be used for real-time scenario control through the trainer (manual control) or automatically by the training system through artificial intelligence based adaptive smart scenarios.
MED1stMR will build on best practices and experiences from 7 end-user organisations from 6 European countries, including Johanniter Austria.
The consortium will rely on its research expertise and knowledge in medical research, bio-sensors and wearable technologies, human factors research, psychology, physiological research, technology, user research, virtual-, and mixed reality, and medical training simulation development.
Johanniter International will collaborate with 18 other consortium members as the partner responsible for communication, exploitation and dissemination of the project’s content and results.
The project starts on 1st June 2021 and will run for 36 months. It is funded by Horizon 2020, the EU program for Research & Innovation.