Written by Judy C. (KIS'20)
Edited by Gina L. (KIS'20)
━━ April 3, 2018 ━━
Perhaps the most interesting of all developing technologies today is the prominent virtual reality. Due to its ability to project a whole new dimension for its users, many people have opted to try this mystery verisimilitude at least once, and since the rapid advancements of technology, the possibilities of incorporating them into medical fields have been rising. For instance, the three types of realities — augmented, virtual, and mixed — are drawing attention for their potential to impact medical students’ learning methods, surgical planning and practice. Behind the research and explorations of this new tech are corporations such as Microsoft, Google and Samsung. Their progress has shown promising results through HoloLens, Google Glass, Samsung VR Gear from each of the companies, respectively. However, following these three realities that seem full of positive consequences are the alering amount of ethical questions. The most concerning issue is the extent of a patient’s confidentiality. With more machinery developing in this department, it is crucial to balance the positives and negatives from an unbiased viewpoint. Hence, as the the evolution of these realities flourish, nothing tops the importance of recognizing the differences with each of these so-called future of medicine.
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Augmented Reality
Most blockbuster movies concerning technology nowadays integrates Augmented Reality as a foundation, The Circle, Iron Man, Robocop being the most common concepts. Augmented Reality is evidently an advancement in technology, but what exactly is it? Augmented Reality, often shortened as AR, is a type of reality that “projects digital information onto the existing environment” (Medical Futurist, 2017). To teenagers today, the most familiar type of AR would be social media filters. First, it recognizes the facial structure and draws from the virtual world to apply a filter to the image evinced in the real world. The best perk of dealing with augmented reality is the coexistence of the two aforementioned fields. Doctors, nurses, medical students view this developing technology as one that could evolve the world. This device allows its users to access and manage medical records such as pictures and documents. Physicians will not have to look back and forth between multiple computer screens when talking with and diagnosing their patients. Adding onto this aspect of efficiency, AR can improve accuracy in the operating room, where all that matters is saving a life. Having a patient’s vitals in the corner of the surgeon’s eye liberates him or her to solely focus on the task ahead. Presently, progress in this area is about “[reducing] risks associated with minimally invasive and complex surgeries” (Klubnikin, 2017). With AR, students in the medical field will be able to get their knowledge not only through charts and graphs but with complex, real-life models of organs and the human body. Dr. Cosgrove of the Cleveland Clinic mentions that “using new technologies like augmented reality can enhance a student’s ability” (Ingram, 2017). Augmented Reality promises a better medical future for people worldwide.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is a system where there is no trace of the real environment, only the virtual world exists. This detail makes VR one of the most immersive and engaging technologies to arise. There are countless ways that it can help in the medical field; however, a few pivotal impacts include recoveries from brain injuries, better surgical preparation and better education systems regarding STEM. For a VR to work, the headset must be linked to a designated program. An instance would be Mindmaze which functions only through cognition. Often times, testers of this strategy are stroke patients who covet progress in their brain activities. This tech allows its users to see an avatar that can mirror their actions and facial expressions. For the people behind the scalpels and monitors, virtual reality can be used for surgical planning. Simulations of surgeries are possible with Surgical Theater, providing a “medical visualization platform”. It gives surgeons an edge by letting them “see [the] probe projected simultaneously on the [surgical theater] and on the navigation system” (Singer, 2017). VR has the capability to shape the future of medical discipline. With a headset and the right program, students will be able to access 4,600 anatomical structures of the male and female. X-rays, CT and MRI scans can be made into high definition within minutes, contrasting to the long periods of waiting it takes without this application. Creating VR for rehabilitation, overcoming phobias, and reducing pain is a productive spend. Having the power to walk through complicated procedures and identify major organs along the way is something that only technology as advanced as virtual reality can do.
Mixed Reality
An unfrequented one among the realities, Mixed Reality (MR) is often misunderstood as AR. They are similar in terms of projection of the virtual and real worlds. With the similarities though, the main distinction is MR’s interactions with the real world. As The Medical Futurist describes it nicely, “[it] first senses what is around and projects the requested data adjusted to the given environment” (Medical Futurist, 2017). One of the most famous of Mixed Reality would be the Microsoft HoloLens. This headset allows the individual to visualize an overlay of virtual reality where it is needed in place with the real world. It is already going effective in numerous hospitals; it even aided in a bowel cancer surgery. Taking a step back, HoloLens is currently being integrated into citizens’ lifestyle and medical students’ education. As there were no specific reasons as to why HoloLens came into existence, people are using it with various intents. Children are able to play games with their programs projected all over their house. Students are able to see how luminous their lamplight is and identify certain objects lying around with their MR headset. Adults are able to blend virtual furniture into the real world, seeing how they would look. With all these versatile purposes in routine life, HoloLens are being invited to educate future doctors. Projecting organs, veins, bones, muscles that the students can actually interact with and maneuver around is a significant asset for this type of technology.
Society has already embraced these steady realities into their medicare system. It is critical that people think outside their worlds with these.
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Bibliography:
- DiGiulio, Sarah. “3 Ways Virtual Reality Is Transforming Medical Care.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 23 Aug. 2017, www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/3-ways-virtual-reality-transforming-medical-care-ncna794871.
- Ingram, Mathew. “Medical Students Are Using Augmented Reality to Study Patients in 3D.”Fortune, 3 May 2017, fortune.com/2017/05/03/medical-augmented-reality/.
- Kaufman, Rachel. “Augmented Reality Could Change Health Care-Or Be a Faddish Dud.”Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 20 Apr. 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/augmented-reality-could-change-health-care-or-be-faddish-dud-180962945/.
- Klubnikin, Andrew. “Augmented Reality in Healthcare: Benefits Get Real – Andrew Klubnikin – Medium.” Medium, Medium, 23 June 2017, medium.com/@andrei.klubnikin/augmented-reality-in-healthcare-benefits-get-real-7c4ea066a76e.
“Mixed Reality in Healthcare - The HoloLens Review.” The Medical Futurist, The Medical Futurist, 5 Sept. 2017, medicalfuturist.com/mixed-reality-healthcare-hololens-review/.
- “The Ultimate Augmented Reality Technology Guide.” Reality Technologies, www.realitytechnologies.com/augmented-reality.
- “Top Virtual Reality Companies in Healthcare.” The Medical Futurist, 6 June 2017, medicalfuturist.com/top-vr-companies-healthcare/.
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