Usability analysis of VR simulation software.

Usability testing, commonly conducted for commercial software to ensure that it meets the needs of the end user, is likewise vital to creating effective training software employing VR technologies. However, developers often limit software testing to expert evaluation (by other developers or subject matter experts [SMEs]) to identify potential problems that might impede the usability or acceptability of the software. This paper describes a usability test of VirtualEMSTM, a VR software package designed to provide realistic practice for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, thereby providing insight into the process and value added by the usability testing.