Introduction
It wasn't long ago that Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) were only used in the gaming sector. In 2021, there will be much interest in VR and AR from various industries, including healthcare.
More and more healthcare organizations were preparing to upgrade their digital solutions using virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) technology to improve data analysis and healthcare procedures. Some businesses have discovered new methods to engage with their patients during pandemics by using these technologies, allowing them to provide remote and individualized treatment. Others employ virtual reality and augmented reality to enhance medical training or prepare for pre-surgery tasks.
However, most healthcare institutions and clinics throughout the globe do not yet use VR or AR technology. Will virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) be extensively used in healthcare and medicine? What is the outlook for these technologies in the future? This article looks at how virtual and augmented realities are being used in the medical profession and healthcare and the end of VR and AR in the industry.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality: Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that enables users to overlay information, movies, and images on top of reality using smart devices. As a result, this technology enhances the actual world by providing more data. The IKEA Place app, L'Oréal Makeup app, Pokémon Go, and many other AR apps are among the most popular.
Virtual Reality: Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated virtual world where a person is immersed in a digital environment. Virtual reality discussions, Volvo test drive reality, The North Face hiking experience in Yosemite National Park, and a plethora of VR games are just a few examples.
AR and VR in Healthcare and Medicine
Here are some instances of how virtual reality and augmented reality are utilized in healthcare and medicine.
- Medical Education: Medical students, physicians, and surgeons may learn how to manage their patients better or conduct difficult procedures without risking surgical errors;
- Robotic surgery: It is when robots execute high-precision surgeries under the supervision of a human surgeon using virtual reality technology.
- Physical Treatment: When doing physical therapy, VR aids patients in overcoming high pain levels and ensuring a speedier recovery.
- Post-traumatic stress treatment: When a person is put in an atmosphere with a traumatic circumstance, they attempt to find a solution and overcome the crisis; post-traumatic stress therapy
- Treatment for anxiety, phobias, and depression - Patients may utilize virtual reality to meditate or relax in safe situations;
- Emergency treatment - consumers may identify medical centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare institutions using AR maps superimposed over reality.
- Personalized approach to parents: Doctors may use VR and AR to explain how their surgeries will be conducted or which actions a patient should follow for a faster recovery.
AR and VR Can Help Patients with a Variety of Medical Issues
Healthcare firms use VR and AR technology to enhance consumer experiences by successfully engaging customers in healthcare operations. For example, healthcare firms and their clients may arrange the sequence of operations and observe the outcomes using VR applications for cosmetic medicine and orthodontia. Healthcare professionals in ophthalmology may supply their patients with an app that stimulates the eyesight of patients with particular disorders such as cataracts or AMD, among others. Patients will get a better understanding of the issue and will be more engaged in their therapy.
VR and AR technology may be utilized to enhance self-diagnostics during pandemics. It's instrumental in rural regions where getting to a clinic is complex, and people must rely on telemedicine services instead. AR's improved self-diagnostics provide a better picture of whether a person needs hospital check-ups and treatment or whether the ailment can be addressed at home.
Aside from that, for self-guided therapy, VR and AR-based applications are employed in isolation. For instance, managing persistent aches, holding meditation sessions to combat worry, or designing workouts to restore joint dysfunctions. Patients who have survived brain traumas or strokes may now participate in a gamified rehabilitation program. This makes it more fun for patients and encourages them to participate more actively in their treatment.
Providing individuals with information on the location of healthcare facilities is another use of augmented reality in healthcare for public usage. Users may identify where the nearby clinics or other healthcare institutions are in an unfamiliar location by utilizing AR maps. In an emergency, AR maps may minimize time spent looking for these facilities, which can be life-saving. For example, if a person has heart failure and requires emergency help, AR maps will display where the nearest automated external defibrillators are.