Communication in a networked haptic virtual environment for temporal bone surgery training

Abstract

Networked virtual environments using haptic interfaces can be used for surgical training and support both a simulation component and a communication component. We present such an environment for training in surgery of the temporal bone, which emphasises communication between an instructor and a student. We give an overview of the learning requirements for surgeons in this area and present the details of our implementation with a focus on the way communication is supported. We describe a training trial that was undertaken with a group of surgical trainees and carry out a qualitative analysis of transcripts from the teaching sessions. We conclude that the virtual environment supports a rich di..