Medical students really need hands-on experience with patients, their illnesses and the best means of treatment as early on as possible. “Learning by doing” is undoubtedly the most efficient means of acquiring the necessary skills. Yet attempts to apply this principle in the field of medical training have to involve close contact with patients, which can pose ethical dilemmas. Mobile augmented reality (AR) might offer a solution in this scenario, as the Hannover Medical School (MHH) is demonstrating at this year’s CeBIT. Standards suffer if real patients aren’t part of training, but “bedside teaching” cannot be allowed to compromise diagnosis and treatment, nor infringe patients’ rights, or cause harm in any way.
This is where mARble, as the solution from the MHH is called, can help. mARble is a mobile, augmented reality-supported simulation application that allows users to learn by studying virtual illnesses instead of real patients. The system completely incorporates the real surroundings into the simulation. Alongside text, graphics, audio and video information, it also assimilates the data provided by sensors, such as a gyroscope, accelerometer and GPS, for example. What’s more, an easily customized set of multimedia learning cards is integrated into the application. And the off-switch will always provide immediate relief if the simulated psoriasis becomes too much to bear.

