Introduction to Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is quickly becoming an actual reality in all facets of technology, education, entertainment, and the workplace. It’s a preferred topic that has been evolving and expanding rapidly. Recently, Augusta University’s Lynsey Steinberg from the Center for Instructional Innovation shared her insights on how far VR has come and where it’s going.
Advances in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is rapidly evolving and expanding. The idea of a wireless headset was exciting not too way back, but now firms like Virtuix are creating 360-degree treadmills to interact with VR experiences. Additionally, Hypnos VR is a product that releases scents within the air based on the experience in VR. There have been significant advances in adaptive and stress response simulations based on pupillometry measurements and even integration of physiological sensors for behavioral research. The biggest advancements are solutions that were unimaginable before but at the moment are entirely possible.
Impact on the Medical Field
The medical field has been a big benefactor of VR. It provides students with a greater approach to find out about anatomy and other points of the sector. VR allows individuals to view things from their very own perspective, making it a novel tool for virtual experiential learning. For example, the phrase "walking a mile in another person’s shoes" can now be a reality, allowing people to view the world as someone with a selected disease or simulate training in a low-risk environment.
Applications in Medical Education
One example of VR in medical education is the "Fire within the OR" simulation, which allows medical professionals to coach safely on how you can remove fire danger within the operating room. This simulation showed a 250% improvement rate on fire safety within the OR. Another industry leader in surgical simulations is Osso VR, which creates surgical training procedures for surgeons and hires medical illustration graduates from Augusta University.
Implementation at Augusta University
The Center for Instructional Innovation at Augusta University has created modules with the Medical College of Georgia on handwashing hygiene health and end-of-life care scenarios with the College of Nursing. The center encourages faculty to develop multiple methods of interactive modules to learn all learning styles. VR provides engaging and enriching materials for a low-risk environment in instruction. The center is currently working with the Academic Success Center to implement Oculus Quest headsets for anatomy and physiology students to learn from application use in VR.
Daily Life Applications
VR headsets are known in robotics, manufacturing, therapeutic modalities, gaming capabilities, technology, research, and education. Any scene that could be filmed in 360 degrees can now be watched in a headset, allowing for full immersion within the scene. This can include theater productions, museum tours, art exhibits, or historically preserved temples. We have gone from telling a story to being immersed in a story. VR technology integration and innovation on campus have created enriching learning experiences, equivalent to virtual clay sculpting with Adobe Medium.
Future of Virtual Reality
The way forward for VR looks promising, with developments in integrating systems for haptic feedback, behavioral research, and gamification. The continued development of protocols and appropriate safety procedures will even be crucial. The cross-platform and cross-disciplinary possibilities will allow for creativity to blossom in new-world solutions. The ongoing need for a technical workforce that may create and support VR and other high-impact technology is rapidly growing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, virtual reality has come a great distance and is changing on a regular basis life for a lot of. Its applications within the medical field, education, and every day life are vast and proceed to grow. As VR technology advances, we are able to expect to see much more progressive solutions and applications. With the assistance of experts like Lynsey Steinberg, we are able to expect to see significant advancements in the sector of VR, resulting in a more immersive and interactive world.
