VIRTUAL REALITY

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INTRODUCTION

VIRTUAL REALITY comes,

naturally, from the definitions for
both virtual and reality. The
definition of virtual is near and
reality is what we experience as
human beings. So the term virtual
reality basically means near-
reality.
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HISTORY
In mid 1950s visionary cinematographer Morton
H Eilig built a single user console called
Sensorama that included a stereoscopic display,
fans, or emitters, stereo speakers and a moving
chair. This enabled the user watch television in
three dimensional ways.
In 1961 , Philco Corporation engineers
developed the first HMD known as the
Headsight . The helmet consisted of a video
screen along with a tracking system. Then they
linked to a closed circuit camera system. Then
somewhat similar HMD was used for helicopter
pilots.
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(Cont.)
In 1965 , a computer scientist named
Ivan Sutherland envisioned what he
called the Ultimate Display . After
using this display a person imagines
the virtual world very similar to the
real world.
During 1966, an HMD was built by
Sutherland , which was tethered to a
computer system.
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BENEFITS

Little/no risk
Safe, controlled area
Realistic scenarios
Can be done remotely saving time and
money
Improves retention and recall
Simplifies complex problems/situations
Suitable for different learning styles
Innovative and enjoyable
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ADVANTAGES

Healthcare is one of the biggest adopters

of virtual reality which encompasses
surgery simulation, phobia treatment,
robotic surgery and skills training.
One of the advantages of this technology
is that it allows healthcare professionals
to learn new skills as well as refreshing
existing ones in a safe environment. Plus
it allows this without causing any danger
to the patients.
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Can be used in hospitals to provide training to

doctors
Used in military so provide war and battle
situations
It is the technology of the future and is
constantly growing
Its uses have given the gaming industry a
new light
Virtual reality is now being integrated
everywhere
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DISADVANTAGES

Virtual Reality equipment's is very pricey.

The new technology can not be used by
everyone.
It is limited to people who have good
eyesight (in some systems glasses are not
allowed)
Virtual reality technology has been
associated with weight gain because
people do not leave their house.
Only large companies have access to
current technology.
 TheRestraint: Presently the
equipment used to create a
9 virtual environment is
restrictive and uncomfortable to
its users. This would have to be
overcome for more convenient
uses in surgical procedures.

TheCost:This new technology

is expensive. The cost of
developing hardware and
software for the application of
virtual reality technology is too
great for many institutions to
implement at this time.
Computer instrumentation is
expensive after introduction but
has always decreased over time;
so I suspect as this occurs
virtual reality will eventually
become more commonplace in
Medicine.
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