Pooja Choudhary
VR and AR In Healthcare: What It Is And How It Works
Let us have a look at what AR/VR technologies are made of first. Although there is a thin of difference between both still sometimes its been used interchangeably. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies help a long way with their technical boon to achieve either immediate goals (like for treatment) or long-term ones (like for teaching/learning purposes). Worldwide Revenues for AR and VR Forecast have reached $162 Billion in 2020.
Components Of AR/VR Technologies
AR/VR hardware includes tracking devices like digital cameras, optical sensors, accelerometers, GPS, gyroscopes, solid-state compasses, and RFID. User input devices like microphones, touch screens, gesture devices, stylus, and pointers. CPU and display/output devices like smart glasses, lenses, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. On the other hand, AR/VR software includes Applications and programs that receive and interpret the data transmitted from/to the hardware/wearables to create an additional or simulated reality.
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What Is The Difference Between Medical AR And VR
Insight Into Augmented Reality In Medicine
Although some may call this magic when it comes to its practical application, the 3D visualization of the patient’s body for the surgeon during the operation plays a life-saving role. In 2019 Surgery was carried out with the help of such technologies and in 2020 the first holographically navigated spine surgery using the HoloLens was performed. In this case, the surgeons had a 3D representation of the affected anatomy generated and projected into the surgical field.
Insight Into Virtual Reality In Medicine
VR has been helping healthcare since 1990 to recreate more realistic images based on CT and MRI scans and X-ray images. Like it can be used to create a model of the affected organ, tissue, or joint and help to understand the possible pitfalls the future surgery could have. Of course, these are just a few examples of successful usage of AR technology in healthcare. Let’s see what the future holds for it in the future and what the market prognosis is.
AR And VR In Healthcare: Current State And Future Perspective
Below is an exhibit that shows the global healthcare for AR/VR market scenario from 2014 to 2025 (predicted). We can see the immersive change that it has brought to the healthcare sector with its increased adoption rate and winning over the doctor’s trust factor.
The use of augmented reality medical applications includes but is not limited to Surgical treatment which includes 3D visualization of the internal organs that are about to be operated on. Rather, using AR/VR tools helps the patients to better describe what bothers them and gives a real-like situation for virtual assistance. Also used in pharmaceutic visualization of the drug’s pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics, etc.
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How Much Does An AR And VR App Cost?
To determine the cost of an AR/VR app one needs to acquire the input data and conduct a business analysis and thereafter work out the UX/UI design and architecture. Other parameters are the type of AR app, SDK and the supported platforms, Maturity level, and AI/ML implementation. A backend part (developer-visible part) to develop the frontend part (consumer-visible part) of the app will be required and then the UI designer will design its appearance. Also, integration with third parties, such as Payment Modes, Google Maps, etc. will also be required. So, we can say that the cost to develop on-demand AR/VR in healthcare shall range from 40,000 USD to 2,00,000 USD for the development process.
Future Of VR And AR In Healthcare: A Win-Win
What was anticipated about this tech a few years ago, it’s far more than it, and the same shall be applicable to today and future predictions. With a resolution of 4k video, high internet speed with 5G (and a possible 6G), and adaptation of the VR and AR medical apps, there are more surprises with this application in the health tech. Scientists are looking forward to utilizing VR/ AR medical apps with research stats so that they can come up with the best diagnoses like ELISA and with the help of these medical scientists can also find a solution for currently incurable diseases cancer, diabetes, AIDS, and even help with better research with stem cells, plasma, working of T cells, and many more.
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