Gunner Goggles
Gunner Goggles: AR Exam Prep
The Gunner Goggles Series is the first exam prep resource written by a high-scoring peer group of medical students, ensuring the most practical and efficient study guidance. It organizes topics around the USMLE and NBME content outlines for the required shelf exams and features state-of-the-art Augmented Reality (AR) mobile application to extend learning beyond the book. This innovative series features AR opportunities throughout the text for an integrated print-mobile experience that maximizes learning and test preparation. The Gunner Goggle function allows you to scan pages for integrated AR links, unlocking animations, visuals, and 3D models that clarify complex anatomy, conditions, and concepts in a remarkably effective and unique manner.
Analysis
Analysis of Existing App
Some things of note that needed to be improved included, functionality of the Link Library, especially how close in proximity buttons are to each other.
2. Comparative Analysis
We also did a comparative analysis, looking at Augmented Reality Apps for both books, the medical industry and toys.
Benefit
Allowed us to learn how different apps explored and displayed AR content. Anatomy 2018 (Above), was note for how it matched our content and how it displayed models in the real world.
Discovery and Ideation
Feedback was initially positive, though we quickly realized that the iPad was the wrong venue for the application, at least initially. Other feedback was that holding an iPad over a book was awkward. Thus we chose to design for the phone, at least for our first round of prototyping.
Library View
3D models
3D models were originally supposed to be an integral part of the app. In these early wireframes we explored what that experience looked and felt like. I initially made blue-sky assumptions about how this functionality might work, without actually taking into account the size of 3D models, the ability to integrate 3D models into an actual environment (and how difficult that turned out to be) and what labeling individual parts of the 3D model might look like.
Prototypes and Research
Research was done through contextual inquiry in a variety of settings, including at the AMSA Conference in Washington DC, in which we tested our first prototype. More lengthy research was done in cafes and in students homes in Philadelphia. Feedback was recorded and improvements were made based on that feedback. Research was done by our teams full time researchers
View: Prototype: https://elsevier.invisionapp.com/share/M3QKQ49XQ8A#/284149826_Splash
View Prototype: View Prototype Link: https://elsevier.invisionapp.com/share/M3QKQ49XQ8A#/284149826_Splash
Revisions and more Testing
Round two of testings took place in Philadelphia. We primarily interviewed 3rd year students. We met and cafes, and in one instance, in a students homes. These interviews were mainly contextual inquiry interviews. Users were given a series of tasks to complete, asked to think aloud as they did and Susanne would follow up with some questions. Students were compensated with a $50 Amazon Gift Card.
Prototype: https://elsevier.invisionapp.com/share/TGGRMCKQ69N
Key Findings
Med Student Life
The period of the shelf exams is intense!
Long days on rotation, followed by studying on nights and weekends.
Question banks are the most popular study tool.
Uworld questions, accessed via the web or a mobile app.
Other common study resources include a single textbook for each shelf and web/mobile flashcards.
Many have experience with in-depth anatomy apps from previous years of med school.
App Usability and Features
Many features straightforward to use: navigation, link library, bookmarking, search.
This way of scanning, accessing links, and putting them in the library is initially unfamiliar, but users catch on quickly.
The first iteration of the pin screen disrupted the scanning process.
Iteration 1 - pin screen triggered by moving phone further away from the page.
The second iteration of the pin screen has potential to be seen as an "efficient" way of accessing links.
Iteration 2 - pin screen triggered by a swipe.
More clarification about "likes" and increased ease of access would be helpful.
For 3D models, details are critical: labels, zooming in, information about minute structures (e.g. a single neuron)
Reactions, Feelings, and Preferences
The scanning process can seem "cool" and "fun," but also "so many steps" and "not super-efficient."
Several participants expressed a wish for a quicker method of getting the links into the app.
