Virtual risks: Rich domain risk and technology transfer failure as design criteria in the sheffield knee arthroscopy trainer (SKATS)

In this paper an example of Virtual Reality (VR) system design in a safety-critical training domain is discussed, in particular, a model for design is presented. This model seeks to create operational definitions of risk in the surgical domain. Perhaps more importantly, it also seeks to discover operational predictors of the risk of technology-transfer failure as a fundamental requisite for the early design. Typically both of these activities do take place in some form in most designs, but they are frequently ill-conceived due to inappropriate timing, low importance, insufficient methodological rigour and the absence of a pre-existent integration model. Using examples from the Sheffield Knee Arthroscopy Training System (SKATS), we will discuss the contention that equal research effort needs to be spent on core design issues as on the technological VR design. Specifically, we will propose a set of guidelines for the research and development of risk metrics in Virtual Environment (VE) design and technology-transfer for safety-critical training.