Communication in a networked haptic virtual environment for temporal bone surgery training

Networked virtual environments using haptic interfaces can be used for surgical training and support both a simulation component and a communication component. We present such an environment for training in surgery of the temporal bone, which emphasises communication between an instructor and a student. We give an overview of the learning requirements for surgeons in this area and present the details of our implementation with a focus on the way communication is supported. We describe a training trial that was undertaken with a group of surgical trainees and carry out a qualitative analysis of transcripts from the teaching sessions. We conclude that the virtual environment supports a rich dialogue between the instructor and student, allowing them to ground their conversation in the shared model. Haptic interfaces are an important enabling technology for the simulation and communication and are used in conjunction with other modes and media to support situated learning.