Augmented reality projections as a tool to enrich simulations in health care education: Combining AR projector technology with manikins

Abstract

The advancement of augmented reality in recent years has increased the interest and potential of using the technology in various fields. In health care education augmented reality is becoming a popular tool, together with manikins, to enhance realism of patient interaction for students in a learning environment. The purpose of this research was to study an augmented reality projector and its ability to add an extra layer of realism to a manikin in a simulation setting. A focus was given to the results of the projections, the usability, the performance and the limitations of the technology in simulation, and how it compared to similar setups that were not specifically designed for augmented reality. Two scenarios were chosen to test the projector. The first scenario was to add a facial expression on the manikin to simulate pain, and the second scenario was to add blood flow to a surgical wound. The results showed that the projector gave the wanted effect in both scenarios, it was easy to use and flexible, and the performance was adequate for the use in this study. Some limitations were also discovered giving rise to possible future work. They included colour change and disturbances in the projections, and finding and fitting appropriate resources.