Mapping 3D Gestural Inputs to Traditional Touchscreen Interface Designs within the Context of Anesthesiology

Abstract

Gestures are a natural means of every day human-human communication, and with the advances in gestural input technology, there is an opportunity to investigate gestures as a means of communicating with computers and other devices. The primary benefit of gestural input technology is that it facilitates a touchless interaction, so the ideal market demand for this technology is an environment where touch needs to be minimized. The perfect example of an environment that discourages touch are sterile or clean environments, such as operating rooms (ORs). Healthcare-associated infections are a great burden to the healthcare system, and gestural input technology can decrease the number of surfaces, computers, and other devices that a healthcare provider comes in contact with, thus reducing the likelihood of bacterial contamination. The objective of this research was to map 3D gestural inputs to traditional touchscreen interface designs within the context of anesthesiology. An experimental study was conducted to elicit intuitive gestures from users and assess the cognitive complexity of ten typical functions of anesthesia providers. Intuitive gestures were observed in six out of the ten functions without any cognitive complexity concerns. Two functions, of the remaining four, demonstrated a higher-level gesture mapping with no cognitive complexity concerns. Overall, gestural input technology demonstrated promise for the ten functions of anesthesia providers in the operating room, and future research will continue investigating the application of gestural input technology for anesthesiology in the OR.