Operational XR: Supporting First Responders’ Missions with Today’s AR/VR Technology

By providing immersive 3D content via a mobile and hands-free display, XR technologies create new possibilities for emergency response scenarios. Yet, the needs of first responders must be paramount in design and implementation of an XR solution for use in an operation. The hardware needs to be rugged and durable; user interfaces must be easy to learn and not detract from the mission; and the system must provide value at a reasonable price point. Before, these constraints prevented first responders from deploying XR solutions. Now, advancements to XR hardware and user interfaces can enable more operational XR deployments. In this session, panelists will present their solutions for enhancing emergency response operations through AR or VR. They will also discuss unique challenges and design consideration for such interfaces and the testing and validation of their respective systems. Join us as we seek to inform work toward more robust XR solutions that target operational scenarios.