## 3 SMTRPM Design
### Software System
#### 3.3.3 Virtual Patient File (Augmented reality)  
Frequently, nurses and doctors use handwritten patient files to view and update a patient's health status. The virtual patient file (VPF) application was developed to offer an alternative for the digital management of this information. Several technologies were evaluated for the design and implementation of the VPF. The options reviewed included near field communication (NFC), quick response (QR) codes and augmented reality (AR). NFC and AR are considered to be among the most promising emerging mobile technologies. NFC can provide a good means of data tracking to prevent the possibility of human error when a doctor or nurse visits a patient, such as forgetting to note in a log that the patient was visited. However, given that proximity to the device is required for NFC, NFC cannot always serve as a substitute for AR or QR codes, which can both operate over a considerable distance. Today, many companies refuse to use NFC. Another major risk of NFC is computer hacking or phone hacking. Finally, NFC is relatively new, and not every mobile phone is compatible with this technology [26, 27]. Because of these concerns, NFC was not further considered for the VPF. QR codes are used to transfer information from a transitory medium to a cell phone. Once a QR code has been transferred to a cell phone, it may, for example, provide details about the business that provided the code, show a URL that can be clicked to watch the trailer for a movie, or issue a coupon that can be used at a local outlet. QR codes are more useful than standard barcodes because they can store much more data, including URL links, geographic coordinates, and text. However, one of their main disadvantages is people's lack of familiarity with QR codes. Another major disadvantage is the heterogeneity of mobile devices, which must be equipped with a camera and the correct reader software [28, 29]. Unfortunately, many users whose mobile phones have cameras are unable to obtain QR reading software for their phones. For these reasons, QR codes were not further considered for the VPF. AR is changing the way that people access information in their environment. The main goal of AR is to \"augment everything everywhere for everyone\". The use of AR in conjunction with mixed reality  
Figure 11: Patient hyperthermia condition alarm displayed on the mobile nurse monitor. (MR) breaks the barriers between virtual media, the physical world and our imagination by enriching our ability to interact with all three. AR could literally change the way we see the world, instantly providing information on any topic we choose to study [30]. The layering of information over a 3D space produces a new experience of the world. AR is fueling the broader migration of computing from desktops to mobile devices, bringing with it new expectations regarding access to information and new opportunities for learning [31]. Unlike QR codes, a key characteristic of AR is its ability to respond to user input. Additionally, AR is transforming the medicine and healthcare sectors significantly. In the domains of medicine and healthcare, AR not only can help save lives but also can help healthcare organizations make their existing processes more precise and efficient. Consequently, AR was selected for the implementation of the VPF. The VPF was developed to offer an alternative for the management of digital information. The VPF is an MAR environment developed under the DroidAR framework [32]. DroidAR allows, among other AR features, marker-based tracking and the superposition of 2D and 3D models. The VPF enables nurses to interact with digital information embedded within the physical environment and can be used to display information that otherwise would not be perceived by the regular human senses [33, 34]. There are two forms of AR currently available: marker-based AR and markerless AR. For this research, marker-based AR was selected. The VPF application uses two markers to display the BT and HR variables in real time.