Mixed Reality

LifeServe Blood Center is proud to offer an innovative donation experience, created by Abbott and Blood Centers of America, this first-of-its kind experience brings your act of generosity to a new dimension. Join us to experience Mixed Reality while donating blood.

What is Mixed Reality?

Mixed reality offers an innovative, immersive digital experience while giving blood. The aim is to improve the blood donation experience, help attract new donors, and cultivate the next generation of blood donors.

Mixed reality allows users to see the real world around them while wearing a headset. Participants wear lightweight mixed reality headsets to enter a digital world with beautiful plants and soothing music but remain fully aware of their surroundings, ensuring a safe donation.

The mixed reality experience, created and developed by Abbott and BCA, allows blood donation professionals to conduct the donation and interact with donors at every step of the process. Donors' eyes are always visible during donation to ensure constant monitoring and evaluation.

try the Mixed Reality experience

Interested donors can find the HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality devices at a LifeServe donor center or mobile blood drive in your neighborhood. Select the links below to schedule your donation and check out the Zen-garden experience for yourself!

Iowa April 24, 25 | WDM Donor Center April 26, 27 | Ankeny Donor Center April 29 | SE Polk High School April 30 | Collins Maxwell High School May 1 | Roosevelt High School May 2 | Altoona Community May 6 | Diagonal School and Community May 8 | Adel Community  May 11 | Waterloo Community Blood Drive May 17 | Townsquare Media Blood Drive

South Dakota Coming Soon! Coming Soon! Coming Soon!

FAQs

• What should I expect if I choose to use the Mixed Reality technology during the donation process?

  Participants will wear lightweight Microsoft HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality Headsets to enter a digital world but remain fully aware of their surroundings, ensuring a safe donation process.

• Why did Abbott and Blood Centers of America develop Mixed Reality?

  Abbott and Blood Centers of America have been collaborating to enhance the blood donation experience and attract younger generations of donors to create a sustainable blood supply. We see the Mixed Reality for Blood Donation Experience as a way to make blood donation more enjoyable and appealing to the tech-driven gen z and millennial audience.

• What device is being used for this experience?

  Microsoft HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality (MR) Headsets. See full details about Microsoft HoloLens. 

• Are there requirements to participate in the Mixed Reality for Blood Donation experience?

  You must meet all eligibility requirements for blood, platelet, or plasma donation.  Actual eligibility to participate will be determined when you present to donate.

• Will the experience make me dizzy?

  The Microsoft HoloLens 2 was chosen because it has a translucent lens that allows you to see your current environment. If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor. If you use a medical device other than a pacemaker, consult the device manufacturer or your physician for information and instructions about the use of other electronic devices near your medical device.

• What if I am hearing impaired?

  We’ve incorporated optional subtitles into the mixed reality experience so individuals who are hearing impaired can participate.

• Can I wear glasses?

  Donors with eyeglasses may wish to remove them, but the device can operate as normal with them on. 

About Abbott 

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Abbott hosts a portfolio of life-changing technologies spanning the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines and 113,000 colleagues serving people in more than 160 countries.

have a question about using Mixed Reality?

Send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!