UX Research & Testing in AR — Siemens Healthineers

01 — Background

Exploring augmented reality as a UX research tool.

The goal of the project at Siemens Healthineers was to explore the use of augmented reality (AR) for UX testing and UX research. The concept let patients choose their own audio, video or room settings — creating a personalized, calming experience. The selection activated automatically upon entering the MRI room — without intervention by medical staff.

The AR setup was meant to communicate innovative ideas for an improved patient experience during MRI examinations, make these ideas more tangible than purely verbal explanations — and gather UX data to measure their effectiveness.

02 — Approach

A structured UX testing process with research at its core.

The project followed a structured UX testing process — a combination of hands-on AR development and classic qualitative research methods. Every step was designed to deliver data comparable to traditional UX research while making the additional value of AR visible.

Setup Built the AR scene from scratch — floor plan, medical equipment models and patient-facing UI implemented in Unity for Microsoft HoloLens.
Concept test Assessing whether the AR setup provides value for patients and operators. Patients interacted in real time with the personalized experience settings.
Usability test Three sessions with radiologists. Clinical users walked through the AR setup, interacted with objects and gave feedback on ease and effectiveness.
Interviews Qualitative interviews on best practices and challenges around patient comfort during MRI examinations.
Post-test interviews Semi-structured interviews for overall evaluation — focused on how the AR setup affects patient comfort and operator workflows.

"AR made the concept tangible — in a way that traditional presentations simply cannot."

— Insight from the clinical sessions

03 — General Feedback

AR testing — as effective as traditional research, with more on top.

AR testing was perceived as an effective and innovative method for gathering user feedback. Participants valued the direct interaction with the concept — which made the experience more tangible than traditional presentations.

The AR setup showed potential to streamline clinical workflows while increasing quality of care — especially for pediatric patients. Compared to traditional UX research, this approach delivered the same quality of insights — plus additional findings only AR can enable.

04 — Patient Impact

Less anxiety. More play. Especially for children.

The AR setup helped reduce anxiety and nervousness in patients — particularly children — by making the MRI experience more playful and tangible. Especially relevant: children are sedated in almost half of all MRI cases.

The AR experience playfully familiarized children with the MRI procedure — reducing stress for children, parents and operators alike.

05 — Clinical Workflow

Operators saw potential — for time, for care, and for difficult cases.

Operators found the patient-experience system valuable. It has the potential to reduce communication time with patients through the UI in the changing room — and opens new possibilities for handling anxious or uncertain individuals.

Several operators noted that children in particular would more willingly undergo an MRI with this concept — noticeably improving the overall experience.

Validated as a new UX research method — same insights as traditional tests, plus added value

~50%

Of all pediatric MRI cases require sedation — AR offers a less stressful path

3 Sessions

With radiologists to validate clinical workflows and operator integration