Arizona State University researchers are working on an augmented reality headset designed to assist astronauts and rural healthcare workers with medical emergencies when professional help is not immediately available. Supported by new NASA funding, assistant professors Hasti Seifi and Pooyan Fazli are leading the project, which aims to provide step-by-step medical guidance through a lightweight device resembling sunglasses.
The headset captures what the user sees, listens for spoken questions, and provides instant answers from a curated medical knowledge base. Guidance is delivered both audibly and visually, offering instructions such as how to bandage a wound or stabilize a fracture. The device operates offline, making it suitable for use in space where internet access is unavailable, as well as in remote areas on Earth.
“We realized our research on question-answering systems could be incredibly useful in space medicine,” Seifi says. “If something happens mid-procedure, nonmedical experts need quick, accurate answers. Waiting 20 minutes is simply not practical.”
Fazli adds that the project extends previous work applying AI to accessibility: “We’re already working on adapting this AR system for rural areas in Arizona,” he says. “Community health workers, family caregivers or even nonexperts could use it to handle simple procedures until help arrives. That’s not feasible right now when the nearest professional care might be hours away.”
The research team expects to have their first prototype ready by December and will begin lab testing with simulated injuries before potentially moving on to trials at NASA training centers.
Both Seifi and Fazli bring expertise in technology aimed at improving accessibility and human-AI collaboration. Seifi has received recognition from the National Science Foundation for her work in haptics, while Fazli’s research includes human-robot interaction and outreach programs encouraging students from underserved communities to pursue careers in artificial intelligence.
The project’s potential applications extend beyond space missions. In Arizona’s rural regions, where there are persistent shortages of doctors and nurses, this technology could provide essential support during emergencies when immediate medical assistance is not available.
Arizona State University has been recognized for its innovative advancements over several years. According to U.S. News & World Report, ASU was named number one in innovation for eight consecutive years by leaders in higher education.
Seifi highlights the broader significance of their work: “The exciting thing is that it works in both directions,” she says. “The challenges of space pushed us to innovate, but the benefits come right back to Earth.”
This research aligns with other technology initiatives involving ASU partnerships within Arizona communities. For example, the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department collaborates with an ASU tech startup developing smart traffic cameras aimed at improving safety through data analysis.
If successful, ASU’s AR headset could one day guide astronauts during emergencies millions of miles from home and also serve as a critical tool for those facing medical crises in isolated parts of Arizona.
