"We combine the world of virtual reality and healthcare"
Introduction:
As part of the VReduMED research project, the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg) has created an innovative VR laboratory that is used for the further education and training of nursing educators from healthcare facilities as well as for teaching and research purposes in nursing science. This environment promotes the development and evaluation of VR technologies in nursing education and enables students to gain practical experience in using digital teaching methods. The aim is to promote digital transformation in nursing education and to investigate the effectiveness of VR applications.
Spatial requirements:
The VR lab at OTH Regensburg has a modular design and consists of a permanently installed area for high-resolution applications and a mobile VR studio for training purposes. The room offers sufficient space for three simultaneous virtual teaching rooms, each with a minimum area of 3×3 meters. A virtual teaching room in the VR lab measures at least 8×8 meters to enable simultaneous use for various nursing applications. The immediate proximity to other teaching and research facilities, such as the Skills Lab and the ReTo Lab, was specifically ensured in order to guarantee close integration of the various units. The advantages of the hardware and software as an innovative teaching and learning method are communicated to selected target groups in the healthcare sector as part of workshops and training courses.
Technical equipment:
The VR lab at OTH Regensburg is equipped with modern hardware that is specially tailored to the needs of the target groups in the project. The equipment includes:
• 15 Meta Quest 3 VR goggles with hardcover cases and Elite straps as well as additional batteries
• 2 HTC Vive Pro 2 VR goggles for high-resolution applications and advanced tracking
• Several iPad Pros to control the VR applications
• 3 Smart TVs for projecting the VR content
• Multiple TP-Link Archer AXE75 routers for stable WLAN
• 1 tablet charging trolley for central charging of iPads
• 1 VR glasses charging trolley for simultaneous charging of the glasses
• Multiple 6e routers
In addition, software licenses were acquired for best-practice applications from Germany, Austria and Slovakia, which cover various aspects of nursing training such as anatomical simulations and nursing interventions.
Involvement of students:
A key aim of the VR lab is to give students practical experience in working with VR technologies. To this end, they have the opportunity to work as student assistants (SHK). In this role, they support the organizational administration of the lab, maintain the equipment and actively contribute to the further development of VR technologies in nursing training. In addition, the VR lab offers an innovative qualification opportunity, particularly with regard to the supervision of final theses, which focus on the application and further development of VR technologies.
Staffing:
• Laboratory head: Prof. Dr. Christa Mohr
• Laboratory assistant: M.A. Anselm Stadler
• Laboratory assistant: M.Sc. Andrea Sattler
Documentation and training:
For a structured and user-friendly use of the lab, several documents were created and made available to students on the OTH
Regensburg learning platform:
• Borrowing slip: regulates the borrowing of VR equipment and ensures that students are informed of their responsibilities.
• Operating instructions: Provides detailed instructions on how to use the VR glasses safely.
• Brief information: Summarizes all important information on using the VR lab.
• Chat forum: Provides a platform for exchange between students and lab staff.
• Introductory courses in XR technology: The laboratory team initially offers students introductory courses to teach them how to use the XR hardware and software safely and effectively. These introductory courses lay the foundation for further use and in-depth applications of the technologies as part of nursing training.
Support for external institutions:
To support external practice partners from the healthcare sector, a hardware information document has been developed. It provides the most important information on the use of the devices and compliance with data protection guidelines. This makes it easier to get started with VR technology and promotes its implementation in external education and care programs.
