Columbus, Ohio – As technological advances become more mainstream, we are hearing more and more about ‘reality’ technology. Augmented, virtual and mixed reality are the most common. While the first two, augmented and virtual, are almost commonplace in marketing plans these days, mixed reality is a new(er) concept.
Microsoft’s Hololens was developed in late 2014 and is just now emerging into the healthcare space as a usable, value added technology. Microsoft’s Hololens is in essence a headset computer that projects images into the real world. When you put on the Hololens headset, you’ll still see the real world in front of you, but now there is an opportunity to manipulate that environment by projecting images, games, programs, windows, etc. right into the room or space where you are standing.
Not to be confused with a VR headset, Hololens’ goal isn’t to transport you to a new world, but rather to allow you to interact with the real world in a new way. It is also not merely a screen in front of your eyes that produces flat images (a la Google Glass), the Hololens take visuals and makes them into something that appears to be a 3D-object that you are able to walk around with and interact.
Here is an example of using Hololens in various ways with medical education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4M6BTYRlKQ
What’s New in Virtual Reality?
Recently two new projects caught my eye worth sharing. The first is a new project, A Walk Through Dementia, produced out of Alzheimer’s Research UK that let’s a person walk in the shoes of someone diagnosed with dementia.
The second is a virtual reality production from Janssen Laboratories detailing the life of someone with schizophrenia.
Technology continues to help advance healthcare and the patients they serve. As things become even more refined it will be exciting to see what’s next in the pipeline.
