HARMAN (NYSE: HAR), the premier connected technologies company for the automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, announced today its role in developing an enterprise software solution for simulation-based training management with HelpMeSee, the global campaign to end cataract blindness. This Training Management System software is a critical component of the complete training system designed by HelpMeSee to support delivery of the standardized manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) training program, which will support education thousands of cataract specialists to perform vision-restoring cataract surgery.

“As the need for cataract surgeries continues to rise, it’s important that we partner with companies like HARMAN to develop technology to support our simulation-based program to train cataract specialists in high-quality, affordable surgeries,” said Jacob Mohan Thazhathu, president and chief executive officer of HelpMeSee.

The surgery takes approximately five minutes to complete per eye. Though the procedure is relatively quick and low-cost, many people in the developing world suffering from cataract blindness do not have access to this sight-restoring surgery. This simulator-based training management will help train the thousands of cataract specialists needed in order to make these surgeries available globally to more than 20 million people blinded by cataracts.

HelpMeSee has employed HARMAN’s software services to develop a simulation-based training management for delivering standardized cataract surgery training. The system includes an application that allows development of a library of pre-configured training scenarios that are presented to trainee specialists. Using these scenarios, it is possible for trainees  to learn, practice and become experts at performing surgical tasks and the MSICS procedure. It provides a wide range of training tools and features that includes:

• Recording and monitoring surgical performance on the Eye Surgical Simulator
• Reporting of cataract specialist’s proficiency level through each stage of training
• Expediting the completion of surgical training in less than six months, significantly reducing the time required for acquiring surgical skills and qualifying for independent surgery

HelpMeSee plans to offer the training program at select training centers around the world, supporting the ability to deliver high-quality, high-volume cataract surgeries and successfully meeting the challenge of eliminating avoidable blindness due to cataracts around the world.

“As software services become a critical component of for many industries, from health care to communications to automotive, technology-savvy companies are increasingly turning to HARMAN for advanced and proven cloud, mobility and analytics solutions that enable stronger and more fulfilling experiences across connected enterprises, connected homes and connected cars,” said Sanjay Dhawan, president, HARMAN Connected Services. “We are extremely proud to play a role in HelpMeSee’s incredible mission to train more cataract specialists, and ultimately improve the lives of their patients around the world.”