Pulse XR: Immersive Healthcare Learning
Role: Project and development lead
Employer: Emagine
Project Description: This application is used in adult training for nursing and assisted living staff. It allows students to practice and perform multiple procedures they will need in their field within a safe virtual environment, available in both training and revision modes. Pulse XR is fully certified, and its exam mode can serve as proof of course completion in place of a physical exam. In addition, Pulse XR won the “Best Use of Education Technology/ICT Initiative” award at the Education Awards Ireland 2025.
Interesting/Unique elements
Multiple Modes: Students can experience the same scenario in different modes. Each mode offers varying levels of hints, but all take place in the same scene and dynamically adjust to the selected mode.
Teacher Control Application: A companion app provides teachers with extensive control and monitoring features. Teachers can select any connected student and choose from four different camera angles to view their activity. They can also speak directly with the student through the headset. In addition, the app allows teachers to assign lessons or modes and enable examination mode.
IK Characters: The application uses several IK characters, allowing students to move and pose patient models freely. This enables more realistic interactions during training.
Virtual Tablet: One of the most frequently used tools in the training is the virtual tablet. It functions as a fully interactive device with its own app for recording patient information. The tablet can be picked up with one hand and operated using the finger of the other hand.
Examination Mode: Teachers can enable examination mode for any available course. In this mode, both the student’s audio and video are recorded. These recordings can later be used during the student’s official examination to obtain certification.
Faked Cloth Physics: A significant part of the training focuses on moving and positioning bed sheets. Since the application runs on a standalone VR device, full cloth physics could not be used. To achieve interactive cloth, a complex combination of blend props and IK elements was implemented, resulting in realistic and consistent interactions.
