Google Glass++: Evaluating Multimodal Alarms on Google Glass

Abstract

Around 350 alarms per patient a day make intensive care units a loud, stressful, and highly cognitive demanding working environment for nurses. Each alarm needs to be identified and evaluated regarding its urgency which requires to interrupt nursing tasks. Alarm fatigue is a prominent result of alarm exposure and a well-known problem for caregivers, causing a desensitization and delayed response time for alarms.

To counteract this issue, we suggest to forward patient alarms and alarm relevant information just to the responsible nurse, using head-mounted displays.

In a first user study, we evaluated the suitability of patient relevant information displayed via Google Glass EE in combination with peripherally visual and audible alarms during nursing specific loads. Therefore, we enhanced Glass with a peripheral light display.

For both conditions (light/sound), the readability of the display, and the alarms' identifiability and distraction, were rated as good. Finally, our prototype was rated as comfortable.