It has been confirmed that the European Healthcare Design 2020 Congress will be held in a new virtual setting over 5 days this coming September 14–18, 2020. Live platforms will be available to provide a range of features including messaging, live chat, 1-2-1 video meetings, themed video networking lounges, and a virtual exhibition, as well as a main-stage, break-out and workshop sessions with live streaming webinars.
Parkin Director Robin Snell and Saleh Kalantari, (Assistant Professor, Cornell University, USA) will co-present in “Session 6 Neuroscience and Navigation”, under the Science, Technology & Innovation category. Their presentation covers how to “Evaluate and Optimize Wayfinding in Healthcare Settings through Biometric Data and Virtual-Response Testing”. For a quick look at the preliminary programme, click here.
The content of the presentation is based on research conducted at Cornell University. The intent of the thesis statement is to address wayfinding problems in healthcare facilities. Research has confirmed that these problems significantly increase hospital operational costs, burdens on healthcare staff, and stress-loads on patients and visitors. To evaluate the proposed issue, a new high-tech platform was developed; immersive virtual-reality testing of wayfinding designs enabled collection of both subjective feedback and biometric data from participants, allowing researchers to isolate and rigorously test specific wayfinding design variables.
The pilot study was conducted using Parkin’s current project: Corner Brook Acute Care Hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador, (in joint venture with B+H Architects).