AIT at the Virtual Reality Symposium of the SIAK

Markus Murtinger, Head of Unit Experience Business Transformation at the AIT Center for Technology Experience, gave an overview of "Challenging Environments" and current research projects in the field of XR training for all kinds of emergency forces - such as the police (SHOTPROS project), emergency paramedics (MED1stMR project) or special forces in the CBRNE field (CBRNE: Chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosives. VERTIGO project). 

Advantages of XR training

Fast, correct decisions and rapid action are always in demand from all blue-light organisations and "first responders". The great advantage of training in the virtual world is that complex emergency scenarios, for example with many casualties, can be trained in a virtual environment in a safe way that can be repeated at any time and adapted to the level of training. In addition, the recording of the training provides the trainers with valuable material for discussion and follow-up with the trainees. AIT already has many years of experience in the field of XR training with a focus on the use of artificial intelligence for adaptive scenarios, bio-signal measurement & evaluation of the trainees (including real-time stress and performance analysis) as well as in the design of XR elements to increase realism (e.g. multi-sensory experiences through wind, heat or smell as well as the design of tangible or attackable objects).

Try MED1stMR training for yourself

Jakob Uhl, PhD candidate at the AIT Center for Technology Experience, presented results and current research on biosignal and stress measurement in the MED1stMR project. On the second day, participants were able to test the prototype developed by AIT based on a mobile chroma keying (green screen) mixed reality solution. Some MED1stMR partners were also represented at the conference. Benjamin Schuster from the Johanniter Research & Innovation Center presented the project from the perspective of the emergency and response organisation and reported on the first major practical test of MED1stMR in Vienna at the end of July, while Brigit Harthum from partner Usecon provided information on possible uses and marketing opportunities for the MED1stMR mixed reality training prototype. She pointed out the importance of cooperation with user organisations and practitioners with testing possibilities and direct feedback. In July, the first major "field trial" took place at the Johanniter research and training centre in Vienna. Further field trials will follow in 2023/24 in Heidelberg (D), in the Jämtland Härjedalen region (S), Ranst (B), Madrid (E) and Thessaloniki (GR) with local emergency organisations that are also MED1stMR project partners.

More than 70 participants from eleven countries are attending the four-day symposium from 21 to 24 August in Vienna at the SIAK, including participants from the police, ministries and special forces and emergency organisations from Austria and abroad. The symposium was opened on Monday by Major General Michael Holzer and Chief Inspector Ronald Maringer, who will lead the event until Thursday. In addition to the comprehensive lecture program, an exhibition was organized with international manufacturers and AIT partners such as RE-liON, Refense and Hologate providing their solutions and new technologies for testing on site.