Virtual Reality is becoming a game of life and death
Three examples of how Virtual Reality could help the medical world with education and treatments.
Thoughts on Virtual Reality technology in the early 90’s became actual reality after Oculus VR started a Kickstarter crowdfunding project in August of 2012. The gaming community went wild for this phenomenon, but even the medical world got its hands on VR now.
Initially, virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and the Samsung GearVR were developed to be used as new gaming consoles. The gaming industry offers a whole new type of experience because of this recent trend. But other businesses have also discovered the possibilities of VR. The most valuable one might be found in healthcare.
3D-education
For a few years, doctors have had the ability to do virtual surgeries through simulators. But educating future doctors with VR-technology is much easier, less expensive and could be done on a way bigger scale.
Surgeon Marlies Schijven at the Amsterdam Medical Center sees a bright future for VR in healthcare. The ‘serious games’ teach medical students faster and more interactive to perform better operations with less fatal complications.
Research at the Radboudumc confirms Schijven’s thoughts. With testing spatial exercises, the research group using 3D-technology prove to have a higher learning-curve than the group using 2D-tech.
VR vs. fear
Virtual Reality could also be a great help with treating mental health issues. UMC Groningen started treating psychotic patients with VR-glasses. Head of research Wim Veling found out that the brain reacts equally to a fake reality as to a real one. In this case, it is easier for psychologists to observe patients. They just have to put on the VR gear and their doctors view the results without actually being in the room.
VR is now a part of exposure therapy as well. ‘Virtual reality helps clients suffering from anxiety like being afraid of going outside or be in crowded places’, according to cognitive behaviourist Petra Fokkema. ‘Exposure through VR stimulates patients to seek frightening situations. Step-by-step, patients become more comfortable in these anxious circumstances.’
Virtual rehab
Patients rehabilitating physically cannot get better with simply virtual reality. However, augmented reality in combination with robotics does help with rehab. In the Netherlands, Armeo Boom and V-Gait are two of the best examples.
The Armeo Boom is a specialised mechanical system that supports arm rehabilitation. Using the software, patients can exercise their arm with the necessary support from the robotics.
V-Gait is a system that trains the adaptability and stability of patients with brain damage. Patients walk on a treadmill where they’re encouraged to walk towards targets on the screen in front of them.
Given these examples, I’m glad that VR has found more purposes other than entertainment and gaming. The risk-rate of surgeries decreases with this better form of education, psychological problems could be resolved much more efficient and even physical issues are treated through this visual tech. I can only hope the advantages increase in the future.