Texas State Interdisciplinary Team Invited To Present At U.S. Ignite

The Texas State research team includes cognitive psychologists, virtual reality experts, human–computer interaction experts, graphic designers and computer scientists.

SAN MARCOS – A multidisciplinary team of faculty and students from Texas State University presented at the U.S. Ignite Application Summit, held in conjunction with the Smart Cities Connect Conference, March 26-27 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Texas State team presented during the open expo demonstration session March 27 on “Just-in-time Virtual Reality Training for AmBus Emergency Medical Service (EMS).”

AmBus is a bus-sized ambulance that EMS personnel utilize during large-scale emergencies. Although EMS personnel receive annual training, evidence shows current training efforts leave some personnel unfamiliar with the AmBus system and unprepared to respond to an emergency.

Texas State’s virtual-reality (VR) application can be delivered remotely to the distributed EMS personnel before they assemble, or as they are assembling.

Such an application would better prepare them to be as effective as possible in using the life-saving features of the AmBus. Such VR applications can be expanded to include other first responders, and, ultimately, lives may be saved because personnel are better prepared.

The Texas State research team includes cognitive psychologists, virtual reality experts, human–computer interaction experts, graphic designers and computer scientists. The Texas State AmBus presentation is an outgrowth of the XReality Research Lab, headed up by George Koutitas, an assistant professor in the Ingram School of Engineering.

The mission of the XReality lab is to integrate two dominant scientific and industrial sectors called Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) and develop state-of-the-art applications focusing on smart infrastructures, health, first responders and computer networks.

XReality develops new technologies that allow IoT data to be overlaid on top of physical objects, creating a “4D” experience to the users of the AR/IoT systems.

About Texas State University

Founded in 1899, Texas State University is among the largest universities in Texas with an enrollment of 38,694 students on campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. Texas State’s 184,000-plus alumni are a powerful force in serving the economic workforce needs of Texas and throughout the world. Designated an Emerging Research University by the State of Texas, Texas State is classified under “Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity,” the second-highest designation for research institutions under the Carnegie classification system.