Real-World Applications of XR Technologies

Progress in hardware for XR technology has led to an increase in the application of XR technologies for various use cases. The metaverse provides an all-in-one solution where people can not only casually meet but also host formal conferences/events. While Skype and Zoom offer virtual meeting spaces, meeting in a virtual conference room via avatars can create a greater sense of presence. The XR or metaverse technologies are already disrupting much of the mainstream industries. Some of the prominent real-world applications of the XR technologies are as follows:

XR for healthcare

Training healthcare professionals is always a challenging and time-consuming task. Typically, individuals have to transition from learning through digital and print media to training and observing senior professionals, eventually becoming competent to perform surgeries independently. A study by the University of Michigan found that 30% of surgeons were unable to operate independently after completing their residencyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28742711/. This can be alarming because it can put patients’ lives at risk. However, instead of risking lives by performing surgeries on actual patients, trainee doctors can adopt a 3D simulated virtual environment.

A study by UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine showed a 230% improvement in overall performance in Tibial Shaft Fracture Intramedullary Nailing a procedure to repair a fractured tibia among VR-trained surgeons compared to traditionally trained surgeons. The inclination towards virtual setups for education existed even before the pandemic. For example, before the pandemic, students at UC San Francisco were taught about anatomy and tissue layers using VRhttps://www.ucsf.edu/news/2017/09/408301/how-vr-revolutionizing-way-future-doctors-are-learning-about-our-bodies. After the COVID-19 pandemic, remote clinical services became more prevalent. Virtual interactions became an alternative to physical visits. We have seen hospitals and healthcare professionals using XR technology for patient care, training, and education. For training purposes, healthcare professionals can practice in virtual environments without putting actual patients at risk.