Virtual reality (VR) technology has been gradually gaining traction in the healthcare industry and has the potential to significantly transform the way that patients receive medical care. VR technology delivers an immersive experience that may improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient outcomes by enabling patients and medical professionals to visualise and interact with medical data more effectively and intuitively. VR can help patients gain a better understanding of their medical diagnoses and treatments. Better health results may result from this and an improvement in the way care is delivered generally. In conclusion, VR technology creates an exceptional opportunity for medical practitioners to transform the way they treat patients. The field of digital health is an emerging discipline that integrates technology and healthcare to boost overall care, save costs, and improve patient outcomes.
TopIntroduction
“Virtual” and “reality” are the foundational terms used to describe virtual reality. “Virtual” implies “near,” while “reality” refers to having human experience. Thus, the ability to emulate a specific world is close to actuality. Computer technology is applied in VR to generate a simulated scenario. By simulating touch, hearing, and vision on a screen, it makes it possible for the user to interact with an artificial three-dimensional environment. This technology comprises a room-sized screen with a head-mounted display component. It utilises software to generate an artificial environment that is perceived as real. The primary application of this technology is to build a virtual world for training in a simulated environment and games with interactive stories. Using this technology, users can interact with virtual elements by creating realistic visuals in a virtual world. Currently, it is utilised in driving guidance, aviation training, healthcare, architectural planning, and army training. It is employed to obtain significant knowledge and skills without the requirement for real-life experience. It is possible to promptly identify the number of undesired symptoms, such as pain, stress injuries, and other illnesses. It provides In-depth details about the anatomy and other bodily parts of the patient (Gold & Maher, 2018; Srinivasulu et al, 2022).
The Development of Virtual Reality (Hou et al., 2022)
The concept of virtual reality originally appeared in science fiction. Science fiction author Laurence Manning, a Canadian, released a collection of short stories in 1933, “The Man Who Awoke,” which introduced the idea of virtual life. The “simulation simulator,” originally developed by Morton Heiling in 1962, was the first attempt to allow users to transition from the physical world into the virtual world. Virtual reality begins to resemble the real world more and more as computer and virtual reality technology becomes more advanced. Based on theories developed and offered in the 1980s, and on proposals made in the 1960s, the initial phase of global virtual reality development commenced in the 1990s.
As illustrated in Figure 1, VR became the market's main emphasis when Facebook paid $2 billion to acquire Oculus in 2014. Manufacturers like Sony and HTC then introduced their own versions of virtual reality products. At the Game Developers Conference in 2014, Sony unveiled a virtual reality prototype of the gaming system. In 2015, HTC also showcased its VR device HTCVIVE, which helped to ignite the VR sector. The virtual reality market has expanded rapidly since 2016.
Figure 1. Historical milestones in virtual reality
Virtual reality technology can be classified into two distinct categories: immersive and non-immersive. Non-immersive virtual reality, often known as desktop VR, is created using a computer, three-dimensional modelling applications, mouse, microphone, keyboard, and other peripheral tools. Either a virtual environment created in a window on the screen or another created from real photos that have been processed by computers and captured through photography. By utilising graphics processors and several control interface devices, immersive virtual reality can be created on computers. The creation of a virtual three-dimensional world by computer simulation, which allows users to experience visual, aural, tactile, and other sensations in a virtual setting, is known as the emulating real-life interaction.