A Cloud Based Interactive Setting for Medical Simulation

Abstract

The process of learning by doing within an online interactive setting – accessible by a single and simple click of the mouse, without downloads of software or other technical procedures - is highly effective and leaves learners with a memorable experience, if the experience is multiplayer, highly cooperative, and glasses-free. That is the case with the e-REAL Online experience introduced in this article, which revolves around a case of multiple injuries acting in an alpine environment. Within this scenario, the learners are challenged to recognize a situation requiring rapid intervention, communication, knowledge sharing, decision-making, and management of an unforeseen event—while taking into consideration critical contextual factors such as a lack of time, scarcity of resources and tools, and a multitude of additional impactful factors (weather conditions, broadband availability, etc.).

The entire experience is based on the visual exploration of an alpine environment and on a dialogue with the patient, which is an avatar performing as a female that was injured during a hiking activity performed alone and was found by chance by an interprofessional rescue team.