Human 9

In the last post, an informal discussion led to an overview of first responders work, how personal lives are impacted and some potential solutions were considered. In this post we will go on to consider 'duty of care', and what it means to provide a safe learning environment. Policies will be generalized in regards to institutions, and thought about in terms of first responders from different services.  Safe learning environments will similarly be viewed without mention of specific healthcare organisations but expanded on to examine andragogy (teaching and training of adults), to think about what adults need to feel safe in a learning environment.  We will then go on to examine what we mean by safety, broadening the discourse, thinking about gendered attitudes to safety and what this looks like in real terms (This may form its own post it could be quite broad and extensive).  In the last post we raised some intial questions... Can immersive trauma training feel safe for t...

I met with a partner of a first responder, who had been in the service for over 20 years.  I explained a little about my research and initial experience in encountering some of the issues related to first responders.  I asked questions about how their partners job affected their personal relationship, their home life, their mental health and what some of the solutions might be in easing their exposure to vicarious trauma (VT) also known as secondary trauma.  Their response somewhat aligned with what was already considered such as: 'Empathy burn out' (in which there is a 'splitting' of empathy response) Shift patterns being out of synch with school runs and holidays Mental strain and the real risk of PTSD Limited debriefing support due to the workplace culture or lack of provision Seeing service workers as a 'resource' without consideration of 'human factors' - on the job real life trauma exposure being minimized in preference of service demands The avera...

 I was kindly invited to attend the first meet up for the Ambulance Service training research group. I introduced myself as working within healthcare training and immersive research. I explained that although I was not part of the service, I had an interest in virtual reality training development and that I was a developer conversant in Unity Game Engine.   I explained that I was really there to listen to the discourse as I have written a research proposal entitled Shepherd’s Shield. This project focused on designing VR for learners safeguarding… to provide safe learning environment to all users.  I said that, it was my understanding that there is a duty of care to provide a safe learning environment and that there doesn’t seem to be any clear safeguarding design principles when it comes to VR.  I continued to explain that I hoped to better understand what provision we make to protect learners when using VR, specifically when the training experience could be potentia...

 I continue to be part of the simulated training research group focusing on virtual reality, augmented reality. I have recently joined the AI research group and the Immersive research group for the ambulance service. I add my voice to these research groups as a VR developer conversant in game engine development, as I focus specifically on safeguarding design. I have a privileged place as a 53 year old female immersive developer with 4 years research experience... (and I'll be damned if I'll waste it ) so it's useful to sit at tables that are not really designed for me.. but i'm always welcomed even if my perspective is unexpected.  I am currently conducting a basic literature search in this field of research and I am on the mailing groups for various immersive, interactive, AI design and research conferences within healthcare.  These will be added to the literature links in this blog.  I also intend to revisit journals that cover similar topics within academia, enter...