Can you see what I see? Examining the Impact of Smart Glasses on Communication Dynamics in Distributed Emergency Medical Teams

Effective communication is critical for emergency medical teams, especially when distributed providers must collaborate under high-stakes conditions to deliver timely, life-saving care. Traditional communication tools such as radios and phones, while commonly used, are limited to audio-only exchanges-often resulting in misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, and delays in treatment. This study explores the use of smart glasses as an alternative communication tool in prehospital emergency care and examines how their use influences communication dynamics between prehospital providers (e.g., paramedics) and remote emergency physicians, compared to traditional methods (radio and phone). Through simulation-based testing, we found that smart glasses reduced communication breakdowns and facilitated more in-depth, context-rich discussions about patient care. Both EMS providers and physicians viewed the smart glass technology as a promising solution for enabling multimodal communication (e.g., visual, auditory, gestures, text). However, we also identified several challenges associated with its use in near-realistic simulation environments, including the need for overhearing capabilities, issues with visual alignment and motion-induced discomfort, extended interaction times, and concerns around autonomy and privacy. We conclude with a discussion of the design and practical implications of these findings.