Laerdal — AR Auscultation simulator
My Role & Contribution
As Product Designer, I worked cross-functionally with stakeholders and developers to:
Lead user research and field interviews with students and doctors
Translate insights into immersive, self-guided AR experiences
Design a visual language for clarity and comfort in a medical context
The Challenge
Traditional auscultation training is restricted by:
Limited access to patients
Expensive physical simulators
Dependency on instructor availability
Students and teachers alike felt constrained, making consistent practice difficult and costly.
Result
Immersive AR Interface for Hands-On Practice
Description:
A fully interactive virtual environment simulates stethoscope placement, lung zones, and patient posture, allowing students to physically "examine" patients using controllers and VR headsets.
Value:
Replicates the feel of clinical auscultation, making learning more intuitive and memorable without the need for live patients or physical mannequins.
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Scenarios
Description:
Guided case flows mimic real-world consultations — from patient history to auscultation and final diagnosis — enabling students to apply clinical reasoning in a structured way.
Value:
Improves diagnostic thinking by letting students build skills in context, not isolation. Promotes repetition and mastery at their own pace.
Built-In Feedback & Performance Tracking
Description:
After each session, students receive instant feedback on correct/incorrect lung sound identification, stethoscope placement, and diagnostic accuracy.
Value:
Encourages self-directed improvement, reduces instructor dependency, and supports progress tracking across sessions or cohorts.
Impact
Empowered independent learning: Students gained the ability to practice and refine their skills anytime, without the need for an instructor or live patient.
Reduced costs: The virtual tool minimized the need for expensive simulators and instructor availability, making training more affordable and scalable.
Improved learning efficiency: Feedback-driven design enabled faster skill development, allowing students to focus on mastering auscultation with real-time performance tracking.
Enhanced accessibility: The concept was validated by over a dozen students and medical professionals, providing more accessible training options to a broader audience.