Augmented reality (AR) is popular among gamers. But can it be used in more serious settings, such as the healthcare sector?
Since COVID-19 struck, more people seek physical and psychological medical help, while hospitals are looking to compensate for staff shortage and movement restrictions. Augmented reality in healthcare emerged as a viable solution to both problems. As an increasing number of healthcare facilities are turning to augmented reality development companies to craft custom AR solutions, the global AR in the healthcare market is expected to generate $1.918.6 million by 2026.
So, what is augmented reality in healthcare? How does it add value to your operations? Where is the novel technology headed in times of COVID-19? And, finally, how to get started with AR in the medical field? These are some of the issues we’re going to address in this article.
What is augmented reality, and why is it getting traction in healthcare?
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that blends elements from the real world with the virtual ones by overlaying computer-generated content on top of a live user environment. Speaking of the medical sector, AR aggregates health-related information, such as patients’ medical records or 3D models of internal organs composed from patients’ medical imaging data, and projects all this as a virtual component for the doctor to view while examining a patient in real-time.
AR is just one type of existing immersive technologies.
Extended reality (XR) is the umbrella term that covers all immersive technologies: AR, VR, and MR. Virtual reality (VR) removes users from their surroundings and fully immerses them in an artificial digital environment with the help of a VR headset. Mixed reality (MR), or hybrid reality, allows virtual and real-world objects to coexist and interact together in real time.
During the surge of COVID-19, augmented reality is more relevant than ever.
With the lockdown and social distancing measures in place, it is difficult to arrange the presence of external consultants during surgical procedures and to conduct group trainings for new healthcare practitioners. Moreover, hospitals are overloaded, and doctors have less time to spend on each appointment. Augmented reality, with its use cases in healthcare, caters to the needs of the medical sector during the pandemic, as you will learn from the following section.
By ITRex Group | Hackernoon
Image Credit: Magic Leap
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