Virtual Reality as a tool for Assessing Technology Interventions in Emergency Responder Contexts

Nicole Kosoris

Ph.D. Student in CS-HCI

School of Interactive Computing 

Georgia Institute of Technology  

Date: March 10th, 2023

Time:  1-3 PM

Location:  CODA  C0908 

Committee 

Maribeth Coleman - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Beth Mynatt - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology & Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University

Brad Fain - Center for Advanced Communications Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Clint Zeagler- School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Bruce Walker - School of Interactive Computing & School of Psychology , Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract 

The proposed Thesis focuses on the capability of Virtual Reality (VR) to simulate future technology interventions for First Responders, in order to assess their usefulness.  While work in simulation has studied objective characteristics of immersive experiences, and work in serious games has studied subjective immersion, no work has focused on the ability to use VR to test future First Responder technologies by leveraging objective combined with subjective measures of immersion.  By combining insight from classical methods of user experience assessment with modern methods of objectively gauging immersivity used in serious games, my project will further the field by supporting methods for assessing the transferability of VR testing to heads-up displays and other fieldable technologies.  Fully answering the question of “what must be simulated” or even “how do we know when a simulation is adequately immersive” will be the work of a lifetime; this is nevertheless a critical step onto a path of generating such a description.  This work allows researchers to begin with the assumption that First Responder technologies, particularly those developed for Augmented Reality (AR), can be tested in VR. Similarly, this research suggests that the results of such testing is quantifiably related to the expected performance of the technology in the physical world.  Thus research on the value of future systems whose hardware is not yet available, or who have interdependencies which must be resolved, may be conducted in advance of the physical components.

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