Portable display devices in healthcare: monocular head-worn displays increase perceptions of clinician warmth relative to tablet computers

Portable display devices are increasingly important in the healthcare environment. Head-worn displays have efficiency benefits over similar devices, such as tablet computers, with the potential to provide handsfree access to information. However, it is currently unknown whether these devices affect observers' social perceptions of the users. We applied the Stereotype Content Model to examine whether the use of different types of portable display devices during a simulated video-conferencing consultation between two actor-clinicians differentially affected perceptions of clinician warmth (operationalised as perceived politeness, engagement and trustworthiness). Across three experiments (combined <i>N</i> = 745) we found that clinicians using head-worn displays are perceived as warmer than those using tablets. This effect was not moderated by the frequency (low <i>vs.</i> high) or type of interruptions (work-related <i>vs.</i> social) that occurred during the consultation. This suggests that head-worn displays may offer advantages over tablet computers for increasing perceptions of clinician warmth in clinical contexts.