According to a 2019 study conducted at the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 25 to 39% of children at Centre mère-enfant Soleil (CMES) experience significant feelings of anxiety about surgery.

To address this problem, Martin Thibodeau created Équanimes: extraterrestrials who help support children on their way to the operating room through augmented reality smart glasses. Children watch as EQUOO and Constellation come to life before their eyes, teaching them stress management techniques as they make their way to surgery.

The smart glasses work their magic: as patients look around the pediatric surgery and cardiology departments, they see Équanimes emerging as holograms from the walls and windows. Twenty minutes before leaving for surgery, patients are invited to put on the glasses and enter an immersive experience that teaches them breathing exercises, meditation, and muscle contractions. EQUOO accompanies the child to the operating room, offering moral support.

Although still in the pilot stage, the project has already been highly successful. Since September 2022, nearly 300 children have received support from EQUOO and loved the experience! Parents and caregivers are also enthusiastic about this initiative.

The project is already making a difference in children’s overall hospital experience, and it’s just getting started!

Project submitted by Martin Thibodeau, Project Manager and creator of EQUOO’s universe

Other contributors: Simon St-Hilaire, Senior Developer, Dr. Myriam Bransi, Pediatrician and Senior EQUOO Project Researcher, and Sébastien Tremblay, Université Laval Professor, University of Cardiff (UK) Honorary Professor, and EQUOO Project Researcher