Another piloting session took place at our partner institution, P. Stradins Medical College of the University of Latvia. The college provided a suitable environment for conducting the piloting and facilitated the participation of students in the testing of DTNET and virtual reality (VR) technology.
We received positive feedback from the students who participated in trying out DTNET and experiencing virtual reality (VR) for the first time. Out of the students involved, only one had prior experience with VR.
We conducted the piloting by immersing the students in DTNET using Stationary boundaries and providing minimal assistance during the tutorials. However, as the session progressed, some students became confused and required more guidance, particularly with understanding the different buttons and determining their next steps. Nevertheless, a few students managed to complete the tutorial with minimal assistance, indicating their adaptability to the technology.
Those students who successfully completed the testing session took the initiative to assist their peers in understanding the buttons and guiding them through the tasks. For example, they advised others to familiarize themselves with the controller buttons before putting on the VR glasses.
Notably, none of the students experienced complete disorientation or frozen states while wearing the VR headset. Some students even mimicked walking in real life to navigate within the virtual environment. Only two students reported feeling slightly dizzy, but this occurred after an extended period of testing. Overall, the students expressed enthusiasm for the new and highly interactive experience that DTNET and VR provided.
The feedback from the piloting session in Latvia highlights both the positive aspects and areas that require improvement. It provides valuable insights into the students’ experiences, allowing us to address the identified issues and further enhance the usability and effectiveness of DTNET in future iterations.