Cardiologic Education
Medical education is about to receive a powerful new tool in the effort to deliver a higher standard of instruction using new technology with great possibilities. Known as augmented reality, it has been used for everything from marking the first down on TV football games to advanced virtual medical simulation (VMS) technology for robotic surgery. Augmented reality is an interactive 3D interface that meshes graphics and texts directly into your view, whether it's from a smartphone, a tablet, or the latest AR eyewear. Apple® and Android™ have opened up new, unique avenues for augmented reality application development with the introduction of their respective augmented reality (AR) platforms, ARKit
and ARCore. Now, augmented reality software applications have the potential to reach a much wider audience, making the immersive, interactive properties available to users worldwide.
As pioneers in VMS, DDA is an AR medical application design and development company that is poised to take advantage of the numerous advantages of augmented reality applications designed to serve the medical field, particularly in branches such as cardiologic education. Augmented reality excels in conditions where exacting simulation experiences are required, and DDA can build an experience that closely matches real world conditions for advanced students.
Need
Medical education places high demands on visual accuracy, and the need for better visualization tools has always been one of the driving factors for the evolution of 3D computer graphics. Augmented reality can prepare students for the rigorous standards of advanced heart surgery in a zero risk, zero liability format. A vivid and effective simulation provides a valuable, hands-on method of instruction that is practical, memorable, and ties abstract medical concepts directly down to the strict terms of actual cardiologic practice.
Benefit
The visualization and interactive features of AR give better tools to educators to describe complex procedures and to impart valuable medical knowledge. An AR education format has the ability to accelerate comprehension for prospective cardiologists, surgeons, and related medical professionals. Augmented reality will soon act as a portal for many types of medical education because of its immersive capability, low-risk development costs, and large range of potential applications.
Concept
Augmented reality applications use the camera on the smartphone or tablet as the method to deliver information. AR eyewear will quickly become a standard option for cardiology students engaged in surgical instruction in a classroom setting. A series of simulation experiences can address different types of medical procedures and even provide sessions to improve patient clinician interaction. The view from your camera can be altered to simulate a clinical environment, complete with photorealistic graphics. Students may use real surgical instruments on an operating table to get the feel of a genuine clinical environment, while virtual avatars can offer instruction or act as patients in a clinical simulation experience, whether it's a routine physical examination or an angioplasty.
One of the most important advances in simulation technology involves what is known as haptic intelligence. While not a native feature to AR, pressure sensitive screens can be used in association with AR mobile apps to further enhance simulation experiences. Haptic intelligence allows developers to create virtual objects that provide real-time sensory feedback. Participants can interface with 3D virtual objects and use them as if they are real. Sensations of heft and effects like the wetness of blood and a pulsing heart can be accurately rendered in real time. For cardiologic education, this can range from the use of defibrillation equipment to a set of surgical tools in an open heart surgery simulation. Operational graphics like arrows and incision marks can be applied dynamically in a programmed series of steps, and support text can be linked to both actual and virtual objects.
DDA has established an excellent relationship with our lengthy list of satisfied repeat clients, many of them in the medical and healthcare industries. DDA launched its first AR project in 2009, and received the Tabby Award for the Best Healthcare iPad App of 2102. Now that ARKit and ARCore have been introduced for a new generation of augmented reality applications, DDA is excited about the future of AR development possibilities for the healthcare and medical community. DDA is conveniently located just outside of Philadelphia, and our team of experienced, degree-holding professionals uses a measured and logical approach to innovation. By maintaining broad array of competencies and integrated services, we are able to deliver cost effective results with the highest production values. From 3D modeling and animation, database development, certification programs with eLearning and accreditation, to any type of custom application programming and design, DDA has what it takes to achieve the solution you seek.
If you would like to hear more about our augmented reality application concepts for cardiologic education, or if you have an idea you think is well suited to AR development, contact us today.
