Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 13:30 - 17:30 CEST (Central European Summer Time - Sweden)
Dr. Rayan Ebnali Harari (short bio)
Faculty Member at Medical AI and Cognitive Engineering Group and STRATUS Medical Simulation Center, Harvard Medical School, USA
Modality
on-line
Target Audience
Researchers, academics, professionals, and industry practitioners interested in the strategic design and application of AR/VR technologies in healthcare, military, and other high-stakes environments
Abstract
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the role of AR/VR technologies in revolutionizing training and decision-making. Drawing on real-world examples from NASA and DOD-funded projects, participants will explore foundational principles, design processes, and impactful use cases in medical and military applications. The course concludes by examining emerging trends and research directions shaping the future of AR/VR technologies.
Benefits for attendees
- Understand the foundational principles of AR/VR and their integration into high-stakes training scenarios.
- Explore case studies showcasing AR/VR in medical and military applications.
- Learn about the design process for developing effective AR/VR solutions.
- Gain insights into the future trends driving AR/VR innovation.
Course Content
Session 1: Foundations of AR/VR Technologies (45 minutes)
- Overview of AR/VR: Definitions, hardware, and software.
- Key principles and capabilities of AR/VR systems.
- Real-world adoption trends and challenges.
Session 2: Design Process for AR/VR Solutions (45 minutes)
- Framework for developing AR/VR applications.
- Key considerations: cognitive engagement, usability, and scalability.
- Iterative design and evaluation methods for AR/VR environments.
Session 3: Use Cases in Medical and Military Applications (60 minutes)
- NASA-funded projects: AR/VR for astronaut training and mission planning.
- DOD-funded initiatives: Enhancing situational awareness and decision-making in combat scenarios.
- Medical applications: Real-time AR support in surgery and VR-based rehabilitation.
Session 4: Future Trends and Research Directions (30 minutes)
- Innovations in AR/VR hardware and software.
- AI integration for enhanced decision-making and personalization.
- Expanding applications in education, public safety, and disaster response.
Session 5: Q&A and Conclusion (15 minutes)
- Addressing participant questions and summarizing key takeaways.
Bio Sketch of Course instructor
Dr. Rayan Ebnali Harari is a Faculty Member at Harvard Medical School, affiliated with the Medical AI and Cognitive Engineering group and the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation at Mass General Brigham. With a multidisciplinary foundation in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Cognitive Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Harari’s research advances AI-driven clinical decision support, generative AI, medical imaging processing, computer vision, and wearable technologies for precision medicine and high-stakes healthcare applications. His work has resulted in over 35 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as JAMA Network Open (IF 13.5), Journal of Urology (IF 7.4), Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IF 6.1), Accident Analysis & Prevention (IF 5.7), BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (IF 3.6), Transportation Research Part F (IF 3.5), Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications (IF 3.2), Computers & Mathematics with Applications (IF 2.9), and Applied Ergonomics (IF 3.1). Additionally, he has delivered over 50 presentations at leading conferences, including CHI, MICCAI, HFES, STS, and IEEE events. These contributions in AI, augmented and virtual reality, multimodal data integration, and trustworthy, explainable AI (xAI) push the frontiers of AI’s role in enhancing clinical performance and resilience in challenging environments. Leading and collaborating on projects exceeding $2 million in funding—including a $1.5 million NIH grant, alongside support from Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation, NASA, DoD, and NSF—Dr. Harari has developed pioneering AI-AR solutions for real-time decision-making in complex settings, from hospitals to space missions.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanharari/