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Methods Inf Med 2003; 42(05): 524-534
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634379
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Applications of Virtual Environments in Medicine[*]

G. Riva
1   Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab., Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: This paper intends to investigate the role of virtual reality (VR) in medicine. In particular it outlines the current state of research and technology that is relevant to the development of effective virtual environments in medicine.

Methods: After describing the two different visions of VR we can find in medicine – the presentation of virtual objects to all of the human senses in a way identical to their natural counterpart, and a new human-computer interaction paradigm in which users are active participants within a computer-generated three-dimensional virtual world – the paper presents some of the most interesting applications actually developed in the area. Finally, it discusses the clinical principles, technological devices and safety issues associated with the use of VR in medicine.

Results: With more than 1,000 VR papers already indexed in Medline, VR is a reality health care. Even if the number of controlled studies is still limited, its merging with emerging technologies like Ambient Intelligence and wireless communication will further improve its diffusion.

Conclusions: The possible impact of VR on health care could be even higher than the one offered by the new communication technologies like Internet. In fact, VR is at the same tima technology, a communication interface and an experience: a communication interface based on interactive 3D visualization, able to collect and integrate in single real-like experience different inputs and data sets. However, significant efforts are still required to move VR into commercial success and therefore routine clinical use.

Keywords

Virtual reality - medical education - surgical simulation - neuropsychological rehabilitation

* This paper is an updated version of an invited review paper that appeared in Haux, R., Kulikowski, E. (eds.) (2003). IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2003: Quality of Health Care: The Role of Informatics, pp. 159-69, Stuttgart: Schattauer.


 

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