Vancouver-based start-up Precision OS just introduced a new multiplayer feature for VR surgical training platform. This means that surgeons and nurses can work together in the same operating room even if they are physically thousands of miles apart.

The functionality allows up to five avatars at a time, with the collaborative feature bringing multiple users into a single virtual Operating Room
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The functionality allows up to five avatars at a time, with the collaborative feature bringing multiple users into a single virtual Operating Room (OR).

“Multiplayer now permits simultaneous access to the same virtual OR by many users. Each user receives an avatar along with their colleagues while performing surgery,” explained Dr. Danny Goel, a practicing orthopedic surgeon and Chief Executive Officer of Precision OS.

In an era of rapidly advancing technologies and procedures, training is often a rate-limiting factor
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The lack of access to high-quality surgical education is also affecting medical device companies. In an era of rapidly advancing technologies and procedures, training is often a rate-limiting factor. Current training approaches vary in effectiveness and are not helping to address cost, and, most importantly, surgical mastery. It is a well-established fact that by reducing the cognitive load on the brain, training powered by immersive technology allows for better and more efficient training.

Even before the coronavirus, traditional training was simply not up to the challenge of educating today’s surgeons
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Even before the coronavirus, traditional training was simply not up to the challenge of educating today’s surgeons, especially not in the numbers needed to cope with demand. This situation, needless to say, has now become greatly exacerbated by the circumstances brought on with the COVID-19 outbreak. Surgery residents are getting less hands-on experience than ever, and it’s affecting their confidence and autonomy. A significant percentage didn’t feel ready to independently perform core procedures upon residency completion, and over 90% opt for an additional fellowship year. In an effort to address this, The American Board of Surgery (ABS) recommended: “rather than increasing the number of cases, we should be increasing the quality of teaching both clinical and procedural skills.” Immersive technology proved a crucial game-changer.

The lack of access to high-quality surgical education is also affecting medical device companies
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As the new normal imposed by the coronavirus pandemic settles in for the long-term, it’s crucial that we continue to explore and implement these XR collaborative tools
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Precision OS is backed by the AO Foundation and is currently the only scientifically validated, peer-reviewed and published immersive virtual reality product on the market. It was founded by a team of clinical orthopedic surgeons and game developers to create the most relevant and applicable medical-grade simulation experience.

The new enhanced collaboration feature builds on the notion of double-loop learning, an educational concept grounded in search, exploration, and decision-making with the “why” in mind. Unlike single-loop learning methods like lectures or videos via tablet, the Precision OS module is interactive and encourages the user to delve deeper into an ultra-realistic simulation while allowing for failure in a constructive learning cycle.

“Through technology, we’re now able to assemble multidisciplinary teams for training without anyone having to travel,” Goel adds. Recently, Precision OS trained more than 300 medical device sales representatives using virtual reality in just 30 minutes. With multiplayer, Dr. Goel said he envisions surgeons remotely collaborating with other surgeons, trainees, and key OR personnel. including device reps.

The Precision OS platform runs with the Oculus Quest headset, making it a portable and cost-effective option that could be used anywhere
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The enhancement grants multiple users in different locations simultaneous access to the same learning module. The platform runs with the Oculus Quest headset, making it a portable and cost-effective option that could theoretically be used anywhere in the world.

“Multiplayer is literally and figuratively adding another dimension to our proficiency focused training platform. Enabling this type of collaboration and knowledge-share typically found in a clinical setting is of great significance,” concludes Goel.

As the “new normal” imposed by the coronavirus pandemic settles in for the long-term, it’s crucial that we continue to explore and implement these XR collaborative tools, especially where it comes to training essential healthcare workers in the age of remote working and social distancing.

This article was originally published on VRScout

Precision OS Launches Multiplayer Tool For VR Surgical Training via @alicebonasio https://t.co/aEUhi2W1nx pic.twitter.com/GS3DvGHxXO

— VRScout (@VRScout) March 23, 2020

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a XR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Virtual Collaboration in the Age of #COVID19 appeared first on Tech Trends.

Scope AR is enabling real-time 3D collaboration on the HoloLens, and some of the world’s biggest brands are getting on board.

A few months ago I went to the Microsoft offices in London to try out a few of their new HoloLens applications. But even though I got to do some pretty cool stuff – like seeing the inside of a working (holographic) jet-engine, gathering evidence at a crime scene and looking at what a knee joint looks like during surgery – what really stuck with me was a broken light switch, and how I fixed it.

AR is empowering reduced travel costs and downtime on machinery or equipment
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Well, not exactly. Someone in the next room talked me through what I needed to do. They could not only talk to me and hear what I was saying, but they saw everything I was seeing through the HoloLens I was wearing. He was also able to annotate my surrounding environment by drawing arrows or circling objects – such as the appropriate tool to use next. In what seemed like no time, that baby lit right up, and I was left with a giddy sense of accomplishment only the DIY-challenged will be able to appreciate.

To me, it’s demos like that really drive home the potential of collaborative Mixed Reality, specially for enterprise. And I’m not alone, as many companies are developing increasingly sophisticated solutions that go beyond the “out of the box” Skype solution which I used at Microsoft.

One of those is Scope AR. Since 2011 they have had a device-agnostic technology that combines these Augmented Reality capabilities with live video streaming, voice, 3D animation, screen sharing, whiteboarding and world-locked annotations. It works on any iOS, Android or Windows smart device or Windows desktop, to allow an expert to overlay overlay digital content onto the real worldview of what the user is pointing their camera at. Companies like Boeing, Toyota, Lockheed Martin and GE already use it.

Since 2011 Scope AR has been combining Augmented Reality with live video streaming, voice, 3D animation, screen sharing, whiteboarding and world-locked annotations
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But their announcement that they have now integrated with the HoloLens adds a lot of interesting possibilities. Not only because it will be possible for it to tap into the device’s sophisticated spatial tracking capabilities, but that users taking advantage of that live expert assistance can do so without worrying about juggling a mobile device on their hand as they’re performing complex tasks.

As AR, AI and IoT become more integrated, this could help solve the skills gap
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Users wearing a HoloLens won't have to worry about juggling a mobile device on their hand as they’re performing complex tasks
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Scott Montgomerie, co-founder and CEO of Scope AR cites many scenarios where deploying this type of technology would bring immediate ROI to industry, such as an automotive plant where a small number of individuals based on site could maintain a large array of robotics and assembly equipment.

“A newly trained technician encountering a complex equipment problem can now show the issue directly to a remote veteran with expert knowledge and act as if they were looking over the on-site technician’s shoulder to resolve issues immediately without the need for additional travel costs and delays,” he adds

Problems around contamination and security restrictions could also be addressed in areas such as in pharmaceutical production, minimizing the number of workers entering a controlled environment and then re-entering standard areas. “The ability to remotely access those controlled areas keeps workers productive, rather than forcing them to end their day,” Montgomerie explains.

“Augmented reality is finally reaching its tipping point in the enterprise space. We are seeing adoption evolve from small, proof of concept implementations to larger deployments where AR is being used across business units. Organizations that want to stay competitive and improve efficiencies are now building strategies around it, which was not the case even a year ago.”

Montgomerie says the major investment in AR made by the likes of Apple, Microsoft and Google have seen the technology improve significantly in the past two years, making it easier for companies to adopt such solutions.

“The applications we’re currently seeing in the market around equipment repair and maintenance, remote assistance and employee training are just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more that can be done once AR becomes mainstream.”

As AR, AI and IoT become more integrated, he adds, this could help solve the skills gap, since people would require less training to effectively perform tasks. A field worker, for example, could receive IoT data about a system such as an engine’s temperature, pressure data or maintenance history while out in the field. This data could then be displayed visually as a technician is looking at the engine in the real world, fed into an AI system, and provide on-going guidance to the worker by overlaying instructions on the real world as each task is completed, giving precise, intuitive guidance.

AR could make areas such as pharmaceutical production much more efficient by avoiding contamination risk
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AR is also empowering reduced travel costs and downtime on machinery or equipment as real-time, collaboration tools are giving organizations the ability to leverage the expert knowledge in their company without having to fly them to the site of the problem or needed repair.

“Clearer, more intuitive instructions mean less errors, resulting in increased productivity and a better bottom line. We are seeing significant gains in workers’ knowledge retention and the accuracy and efficiency with which they complete complex tasks. In some instances, there’s a 25% increase in time savings when compared to a worker completing the same procedure using traditional paper instructions.”

This article was originally published on VRScout

How This Remote AR Assistance App Wants to Transform Business via @alicebonasio https://t.co/1SBdnsDY3L pic.twitter.com/ZUE9rppDZf

— VRScout (@VRScout) December 27, 2017

For help getting your own VR/AR/MR project off the ground, get in touch about our Virtual Reality Consultancy services 

 

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post How Augmented Reality is Transforming Business appeared first on Tech Trends.