Canada (Commonwealth Union) – Virtual reality (VR) technology has rapidly advanced in recent years, and its potential applications are vast and varied. VR technology allows users to immerse themselves in digital environments, simulating real-life experiences in a way that was previously impossible.
Ben Sainsbury, a Computer Science PhD candidate from the Faculty of Science at Ontario Tech University, is co-founder of Marion Surgical, a virtual reality surgical rehearsal and training company.
As the student commenced his doctoral work at the university in 2013, he had an interest in producing the next great virtual reality video game. However, his attention was drawn to the way the technology may assist professionals and people in the health care field.
Sainsbury’s work gained attention from Dr. Rajiv Singal, Chief Surgeon at Michael Garron Hospital, who was interested in the possibility of producing VR training for urology surgery. Dr. Singal joined hands with Sainsbury to co-found Marion Surgical.
In urology surgery, surgeons depend on two-dimensional X-rays to find out incision points and the location of objects needing to be taken out, like kidney stones. Sainsbury’s VR technology gives doctors a chance to view the procedure in 3D, giving them a better idea of how deep and in which direction they must navigate when attempting to extract a kidney stone.
The technology behind VR involves advanced graphics rendering, tracking of head and hand movements, and high-speed data processing to create a seamless and immersive experience. The VR headset displays two images, one for each eye, to create a 3D visual experience.
The potential applications for virtual reality are vast and varied. One of the most common applications of VR is in gaming. VR gaming provides a unique and highly immersive experience, allowing players to feel like they are part of the game’s world rather than merely controlling a character on a screen. The use of VR in gaming has already led to the development of new game genres, such as escape rooms and immersive puzzle games. The technology may be a game changer for urology surgery.
