When the doctor sees with the eyes of the rescuer | The usARe Project, saving a life with smart glasses

“Rescue” technology: The usARe (Usability and Acceptability Study of AR Solutions for Emergency Rescue Support) project—an applied research initiative conducted by the Center for Digital Health and Wellbeing at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) in Trento and the Research and Development division of Certottica Group in Longarone, which concluded in recent weeks—has been launched with this objective.

Smart glasses, from accessory to life-saving tool

The idea of the project was clear: to exploit the potential of smart glasses by making them evolve from a technological and fashion accessory to a real life-saving tool. In fact, usARe continued the work of another project (S.O.S. – Smart Glasses to support emergency medicine and out-of-hospital urgency in mountain contexts), co-financed through PNRR and which had seen CertotticaGroup and EzLab engaged on the subject. The results of the previous initiative have been deepened in this new design initiative, which focused on devices coming directly from the consumer market to evaluate their usability and usability in operating conditions.

“The primary objective – says Oscar Mayora, head of the digital health research unit (dHRes) at FBK, which has long been active in the study of augmented reality for rehabilitation and care – is to transform wearable technologies from promising laboratory objects to concrete and life-saving tools. In fact, tele-rescue allows you to cancel physical distances, putting the experience of the specialist doctor literally “in the eyes” of those who work in the field. Such support can be critical, for example, in ensuring that patients are directed to the appropriate facility from the earliest stages of care, significantly improving outcomes for time-sensitive conditions during the so-called “golden hour”.

Experimentation

Between April and May 2026, the Belluno Alpine Rescue (CNSAS) hangar served as the setting for a series of realistic simulations. Eleven participants—including operators and volunteers from the Alpine Rescue, SUEM, the regional health service, the Red Cross, and flight organizations—took part in dynamic indoor and outdoor scenarios, including simulated emergency interventions inside an ambulance. The workflow tested is as simple as it is innovative: one or two rescuers wearing smart glasses provide care to the patient while keeping their hands completely free. At the same time, a physician connected through the operations center sees exactly what the rescuer sees in real time and provides step-by-step guidance throughout the intervention.

The results of the psychophysiological measurements and focus groups were excellent: the operators reported a strong ease of use and an extremely low cognitive load.  In other words, glasses help without distracting, resulting in comfort even in situations of strong emotional stress.

As expected, the project also identified several challenges that must be addressed before these technologies are ready for widespread deployment in emergency response. These include protecting patient privacy during the real-time transmission of sensitive images; ensuring that the smart glasses can withstand harsh weather conditions and repeated exposure to disinfectants and other chemicals; maintaining reliable connectivity in remote or difficult-to-reach areas; and further simplifying system startup so it can be activated quickly during the most critical moments.

What’s next for CertotticaGroup

This success is not only a clinical achievement but also an important milestone for the industrial sector. “The usARe project showcases Certottica Group’s role as a hub of excellence for expertise and innovation, while fully embodying our corporate tagline, “Driving the Future,”said Corrado Facco, CEO of Certottica Group – Study, innovation, and research are the guiding principles behind everything we do. With an eye to the future, we work alongside leading companies, universities, and research institutions across Italy and Europe to ensure that new technologies help us address the challenges of work, safety, and, in this case, healthcare. For mountain communities, the benefits extend well beyond emergency response, with positive impacts on areas ranging from tourism to social services. At the same time, these collaborations enable us to provide manufacturing companies with valuable data, insights, and practical guidance to help design the next generation of devices.”

usARE’s funding

The usARE activity was funded through the Seal of Excellence DIPS project, an initiative born as part of the Digital Europe programme and awarded by the European Commission. DIPS, of which FBK is the lead entity; is part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network and uses PNRR funds to accelerate digital transformation and the integration of advanced technologies in Public Administration and small and medium-sized enterprises.