Virtual reality trainers are educational tools with great potential for laparoscopic surgery. They can provide basic skills training in a controlled environment and free of risks for patients. They can also offer objective performance assessment without the need for proctors. However, designing effective user interfaces that allow the acquisition of the appropriate technical skills on these systems remains a challenge. This paper aims to examine a process for achieving interface and environment fidelity during the development of the Virtual Basic Laparoscopic Surgical Trainer (VBLaST). Two iterations of the design process were conducted and evaluated. For that purpose, a total of 42 subjects participated in two experimental studies in which two versions of the VBLaST were compared to the accepted standard in the surgical community for training and assessing basic laparoscopic skills in North America, the FLS box-trainer. Participants performed 10 trials of the peg transfer task on each trainer. The assessment of task performance was based on the validated FLS scoring method. Moreover, a subjective evaluation questionnaire was used to assess the fidelity aspects of the VBLaST relative to the FLS trainer. Finally, a focus group session with expert surgeons was conducted as a comparative situated evaluation after the first design iteration. This session aimed to assess the fidelity aspects of the early VBLaST prototype as compared to the FLS trainer.

The results indicate that user performance on the earlier version of the VBLaST resulting from the first design iteration was significantly lower than the performance on the standard FLS box-trainer. The comparative situated evaluation with domain experts permitted us to identify some issues related to the visual, haptic and interface fidelity on this early prototype. Results of the second experiment indicate that the performance on the second generation VBLaST was significantly improved as compared to the first generation and not significantly different from that of the standard FLS box-trainer. Furthermore, the subjects rated the fidelity features of the modified VBLaST version higher than the early version. These findings demonstrate the value of the comparative situated evaluation sessions entailing hands on reflection by domain experts to achieve the environment and interface fidelity and training objectives when designing a virtual reality laparoscopic trainer. This suggests that this method could be used successfully in the future to enhance the value of VR systems as an alternative to physical trainers for laparoscopic surgery skills. Some recommendations on how to use this method to achieve the environment and interface fidelity of a VR laparoscopic surgical trainer are identified.

虚拟现实培训师是具有巨大潜力的腹腔镜手术教育工具。他们可以在可控的环境中提供基本技能培训，并且不会给患者带来风险。他们也可以提供客观的绩效评估，而无需监理人员。然而，设计有效的用户界面以允许他们掌握这些系统上的适当技术技能仍然是一个挑战。本文旨在研究在开发虚拟基本腹腔镜手术培训师（VBLaST）的过程中实现界面和环境保真度的过程。设计过程进行了两次迭代并进行了评估。为了这个目的，共有42位受试者参加了两项实验研究，其中将两种版本的VBLaST与手术界公认的标准进行了比较，以训练和评估北美的腹腔镜基本技能FLS盒式训练器。参与者在每个教练上进行了10次钉子传递任务的试验。任务绩效的评估基于经过验证的FLS评分方法。此外，使用主观评估问卷来评估VBLaST相对于FLS培训器的保真度。最后，在第一次设计迭代之后，与专家外科医生进行了焦点小组会议，作为比较性评估。本次会议旨在评估与FLS培训器相比，早期VBLaST原型的保真度方面。FLS盒式培训师。参与者在每个教练上进行了10次钉子传递任务的试验。任务绩效的评估基于经过验证的FLS评分方法。此外，使用主观评估问卷来评估VBLaST相对于FLS培训器的保真度。最后，在第一次设计迭代之后，与专家外科医生进行了焦点小组会议，作为比较性评估。本次会议旨在评估与FLS培训器相比，早期VBLaST原型的保真度方面。FLS盒式培训师。参与者在每个教练上进行了10次钉子转移任务的试验。任务绩效的评估基于经过验证的FLS评分方法。此外，使用主观评估问卷来评估VBLaST相对于FLS培训器的保真度。最后，在第一次设计迭代之后，与专家外科医生进行了焦点小组会议，作为比较性的环境评估。本次会议旨在评估与FLS培训器相比，早期VBLaST原型的保真度方面。最后，在第一次设计迭代之后，与专家外科医生进行了焦点小组会议，作为比较性评估。本次会议旨在评估与FLS培训器相比，早期VBLaST原型的保真度方面。最后，在第一次设计迭代之后，与专家外科医生进行了焦点小组会议，作为比较性评估。本次会议旨在评估与FLS培训器相比，早期VBLaST原型的保真度方面。

结果表明，第一次设计迭代产生的VBLaST早期版本的用户性能明显低于标准FLS盒式培训器的性能。与领域专家进行的比较定位评估使我们能够在此早期原型上确定一些与视觉，触觉和界面保真度有关的问题。第二个实验的结果表明，与第一代相比，第二代VBLaST的性能得到了显着提高，与标准FLS盒式训练器的性能没有显着差异。此外，受试者对修改后的VBLaST版本的保真度功能的评价高于早期版本。这些发现证明了进行比较性评估会议的价值，这需要领域专家进行反思，以在设计虚拟现实腹腔镜培训师时实现环境和界面保真度以及培训目标。这表明该方法将来可以成功用于增强VR系统的价值，作为替代腹腔镜手术技能的物理教练的价值。确定了有关如何使用此方法来实现VR腹腔镜手术训练师的环境和界面保真度的一些建议。这表明该方法将来可以成功用于增强VR系统的价值，作为替代腹腔镜手术技能的物理教练的价值。确定了有关如何使用此方法来实现VR腹腔镜手术训练师的环境和界面保真度的一些建议。这表明该方法将来可以成功用于增强VR系统的价值，作为替代腹腔镜手术技能的物理教练的价值。确定了有关如何使用此方法来实现VR腹腔镜手术训练师的环境和界面保真度的一些建议。