Augmedix (Nasdaq: AUGX) delivers industry-leading, ambient medical documentation and data solutions to healthcare systems, physician practices, hospitals, and telemedicine practitioners

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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 So, what is 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. generate $1.918.6 million by 2026. augmented reality 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. is the umbrella term that covers all immersive technologies: AR, VR, and MR. ) removes users from their surroundings and fully immerses them in an artificial digital environment with the help of a VR headset. , 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 . AR is just one type of existing immersive technologies. Extended reality (XR) Virtual reality (VR Mixed reality (MR) 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. 5 medical applications of augmented reality AR helps conduct complex surgeries AR improves mental health therapy AR facilitates diagnostic procedures AR takes medical training and education to another level AR contributes to pain management 1. AR helps conduct complex surgeries It has been a challenge to bring AR to surgery, as superimposing computer-generated images (CGI) on top of a camera or smart glasses’ view leads to performance and perception issues. If you want to put virtual objects into focus, then real objects will become blurry and appear at different distances, which is a recipe for disaster during medical procedures. Another option for augmenting surgeries involves displaying virtual information on a separate screen, which would cause surgeons to constantly take their eyes off the patient. Incorporating augmented reality into healthcare allows projecting virtual objects within the doctor’s line of sight, and it doesn’t interfere with how real-life objects appear. took place in February 2020 at Policlinico Universitario S. Orsola of Bologna. The lead surgeon wore VOSTARS, which is a visor integrated with AR. The device enabled him to view virtual elements, such as the patient’s heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate, and some CT and MRI scans taken prior to the surgery. Dr. Philip Pratt, a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, speaks about the benefit of augmented reality tools for surgery: The first-ever augmented reality-assisted surgery “This technology allows us to experience the data that we have collected from patients before their operation in the most realistic and natural way. You look at the leg and essentially see the inside of it.” One FDA-approved augmented reality tool for spine surgery is Xvision Spine System, developed by Chicago-based Augmedics. This is a navigation system that guides surgical tools’ movements. Xvision determines the position of surgical tools in real time and builds a virtual trajectory imposing it on the patient’s CT data. The whole model is then projected on the surgeon’s retina through the headset. That way, the surgeon can see both the patient and the navigation data at once. Dr. Frank Phillips, Director of the Division of Spine Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, was the first to use Xvision to perform a lumbar fusion with spinal implants. The tool enabled Phillips to see the patient’s spine anatomy in 3D through the skin. Here’s how Dr. Phillips described his experience: Augmented reality in spine surgery “Traditional surgical navigation platforms have been shown to improve accuracy of implant placement, however using augmented reality allows for the advantages of traditional (non-3D) navigation plus the ability to visualize the patients spinal anatomy in 3D through the skin.” An example of AR-assisted brain surgery comes from LA-based Surgical Theater. The healthcare startup has partnered with Medtronic, a medical device company, to enhance its augmented reality technology with Medtronic’s StealthStation S8 surgical navigation system. This new technology will enable neurosurgeons to visualize brain structures and test different surgical equipment virtually before entering the operating room. EchoPixel, a medical visualization software provider, introduced an intraoperative program that delivers a 3D anatomic visualization of the human heart. This model is composed of different types of a patient’s medical images and displays blood vessels and other heart structures. This invention allows the surgical team to interact with the 3D model as if it was a real-world object. They can see patient-specific anatomy, capture accurate measures and distances. Augmented reality in brain surgery Augmented reality in heart surgery With the help of augmented reality in healthcare, patients can see how their appearance changes after a reconstructive surgery, even before entering the operating room. One example comes from dentistry. New Jersey-based SmarTek developed an augmented reality medical app, which uses a smartphone’s camera to apply virtual depictions of an improved set of teeth to the current patient’s photo. That way, the patient knows what to expect, and together with the dentist, they can adjust the features based on the patient’s preferences. Plastic surgery with augmented reality The pandemic presents a unique challenge for the healthcare industry, as the novel virus is highly contagious, and the risk of infecting the surgical team is rather high. Also, due to limitations imposed on travel, senior surgeons are not always able to attend and advise their junior colleagues. Augmented reality-assisted telesurgery looks like a viable option in these circumstances. The British Journal of Surgery describes who was admitted to a hospital with a persistent cough and medical history of diabetes and other disorders. His COVID-19 test turned positive, and the patient needed an immediate surgical intervention to alleviate COVID-related complications. Despite the difficulty of this case, a junior attending surgeon performed the operation. He used an AR-enabled telesurgery platform, which let him consult two other surgeons who could not be physically present. Augmented reality surgery in the COVID-19 era the case of a 59-years old patient 2. AR improves mental health therapy Augmented reality is diverse in its medical applications as it spans over the realm of mental well-being. For example, augmented reality can treat phobias. In safe settings, doctors can help patients immerse into a virtual reality that would trigger negative responses, such as fear and anxiety. Under a professional’s supervision, patients learn to control their feelings, thereby overcoming the mental health condition. Additionally, AR can be used for relaxation and meditation. The coronavirus infection and the subsequent lockdowns created extreme circumstances and . During the pandemic, reported symptoms of depression or/and anxiety, compared to only one in ten experiencing similar symptoms during the period of January-June 2019. Augmented reality treats mental illnesses during the pandemic took a toll on people’s psychological behavior four out of ten adults The Journal of Medical Internet Research published a paper describing the positive impact of playing augmented reality games during the pandemic. Within this study, reported that playing AR games was beneficial for their mental health. The participants also mentioned that AR games encourage them to exercise more often. Just recently, the University of Alberta developed YOU-AR-OK, an augmented reality healthcare app that prompts users to reflect on their feelings. This program features an avatar in the form of a dog. As soon as users create an account, this virtual dog is transported into their physical space. The animal asks users questions such as “how are you feeling?”, “did you get enough sleep?”, etc. With each question, people will open up without fear of judgment and recognize their psychological patterns. three out of four participants 3. AR facilitates diagnostic procedures Clearly communicating the symptoms plays a vital role in accurate diagnosis. However, many patients struggle to describe their symptoms realistically without downplaying or amplifying them. Augmented reality in healthcare can help both patients and doctors understand medical conditions better. Moreover, AR can help doctors handle other diagnosis-related tasks, such as taking medical notes. Every person’s anatomy is different, and with some patients, it is rather hard to spot their veins. According to statistics, miss the vein on the first attempt. AccuVein, a global producer of medical imaging solutions, has solved this problem. The company developed a device that uses AR to illuminate veins, enabling medical professionals to view the vein map clearly on patients’ skin while administering intravenous injections. While diagnosing patients, physicians must constantly look up relevant information on their screen, scattering their attention between their PC and the patient. Atheer, a California-based startup, developed augmented interactive reality (AIR) glasses that are connected to an Android-powered computer. These glasses can display relevant patient data within physicians’ field of view during checkups. Additionally, doctors can interact with the presented information via voice commands and hand gestures. Augmented reality-based healthcare apps permit users to perform self-checks, monitor their conditions, and contact a professional when needed. SkinVision uses machine learning, a , and augmented reality to assess any suspicious spots or moles on the skin. All you need to do is to take a photo of the affected area using the app, which will analyze the spot and classify it as high/medium/low risk. You can set a reminder to repeat the procedure to continuously monitor the progress. All these images are stored in the SkinVision database. Making veins easier to spot 40% of intravenous injections Bringing important data into view Enabling self-diagnosing subset of AI Taking notes during patient examination is a time-consuming task that prolongs the time allocated per patient. During the pandemic, hospitals are trying to reduce the duration of each office visit to be able to serve more patients in one day. Augmedix, a startup headquartered in San Francisco, provides tools for remote medical documentation. This product is designed specifically for the busy emergency department environment during the pandemic. All the virtual scribes are properly trained and use Augmedix note builder technology to produce consistent documentation. They capture key information from a patient's speech and suggest any educational material that a patient might find beneficial. To let physicians benefit from augmented reality in healthcare, the company integrates their remote scribing tool with Google Glass to display relevant patient information to the doctor in real time. Augmented diagnosis in the coronavirus era 4. AR takes medical training and education to another level This is one of the most relevant augmented reality examples in healthcare, given the lockdown and ubiquitous shift to eLearning. Augmented reality in healthcare can create 3D models of human organs. Medical students and trainees can interact with these projections, try to examine, cut, and treat them. Some advanced tools even allow physicians to perform complex surgeries virtually for the purpose of training, without the need to interact with the real human tissue. For example, TouchSurgery, a health tech company headquartered in London, developed a groundbreaking augmented reality surgery training platform that offers step-by-step guidance for over 300 surgical procedures. It is used globally in 160 surgical residency programs. AR for students and residents training AR-based solutions for patient education help individuals better understand their anatomy and the impact a disease or a treatment can have on their body. Medical Augmented Intelligence, a digital health company, headquartered in Taiwan, developed a tool called DigiTwin that enables patients to learn from their digital twins. The solution converts a patient’s medical images, such as CT and MRI scans, into a 3D model in a matter of . Patients engage with their digital twins under doctors’ supervision. They experiment and decide on treatments together. Since the hit, employers are looking for novel ways to conduct classes without gathering people in one location. With augmented reality-based medical training, every physician can learn individually from their office or home. Trainees can virtually practice medical procedures as described above. And they can also learn how to use medical equipment remotely by means of digital twins that mirror the functionality of real-life complex medical devices. Patient education with AR 30 seconds Augmented reality-supported medical education in the COVID-19 era pandemic 5. AR contributes to pain management Augmented reality in healthcare is emerging as a strong drug-free pain management tool. This technology allows patients who experience persistent pain to immerse themselves in a safe, relaxing environment with audible and visual stimulations. Such virtual surroundings alter people’s experiences, providing a distraction from pain. In addition to visualization, deep breathing is another powerful remedy against pain. Neon, an immersive technology provider, developed an application that enables people with chronic pain to use deep breathing as a pain relief technique. When patients put the Neon headset on, they are asked to inhale deeply. Upon exhaling, they see the surrounding virtual leaves move in response to their breath. This tool offers both visual and breath-based pain distractions. COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown add stress and anxiety, making chronic pain sufferers even more vulnerable. Several medical clinics are opting for virtual and augmented reality in healthcare to support pain management. For example, in response to the pandemic, Stanford Children Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Program supplies its young patients with VR and AR equipment to use during their telehealth sessions with doctors, as well as independently. Pain management with AR during the pandemic Tips to get started with augmented reality in healthcare If your medical facility is looking to adopt augmented reality to deliver superior patient care, provide accessible training, and improve internal workflows, we have some tips that will help you get started. Start small and simple: many augmented reality tools and vendors are available on the market, making it easy for AR newbies to lose focus. The only way to avoid costly mistakes is to start small and concentrate your attention on one tool or solution with a well-defined business case. Purchase/develop this tool, test it with your clinicians to see if it brings about the expected benefits (e.g., shortens patient examination time, supports decision making during surgery, etc.). Investigate whether your training program was successful and if your medical staff are willing to use the tool. Start with a simple tracking approach that has proven itself, like marker-based or marker-less AR driven by SLAM algorithms, which deliver perfect tracking quality in most cases. Think about legacy system integration: when introducing a new augmented reality solution in healthcare, check if it can be seamlessly integrated with your existing systems. If your hospital uses legacy software, choose an AR solution that can merge with the old system without disrupting other internal operations. Upgrade your technology: augmented reality in healthcare is becoming increasingly sophisticated. So, medical facilities need to make sure their infrastructure (software, hardware, cloud services, etc.) can keep up. Select the right software development kit (SDK) vendor: a vendor’s SDK will determine the set of features you can expect from your augmented reality application. If your AR tool requires a complex feature, such as recognizing a dynamic target, you need to discuss this in advance to ensure your selected vendor offers a kit that can support this requirement. Start with a Proof of Concept (PoC): this phase allows you to verify if the chosen technology/SDK works as expected before you commit time and resources to a full-blown project. Determine your content strategy: decide where to obtain content for your AR tool and how often it will be updated (if relevant). Research the prices of content creation. Sometimes, content costs are significantly higher than actual tool development costs. Work on safety and security: this aspect is particularly relevant if your AR data will be stored in the cloud. You need to secure data transmission between the cloud and the AR device. Think about how much of a problem Internet interruption can cause and how likely it is to happen. Can your solution work in offline mode (e.g., with the hospital’s restricted network)? When choosing a cloud vendor, opt for someone who is familiar with the healthcare sector and its demands, including compliance and data sensitivity. What to expect for AR in the medical field? Even though the augmented reality in is still in its early stages, it evolves fast and will soon make its way to operating rooms, doctor offices, and medical universities. According to Richard Chua, an MD from Northwest NeuroSpecialists, Arizona, As with many of our other enabling technologies, AR will find a place and penetrance. It may initially be best for training surgeons, but as high tech gets more and more integrated with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, AR may become the new image guidance or robotic-assisted technology to gain popularity.” While thinking about improving your clinic and building a business case, remember that acquiring AR-based is not only a matter of development costs. You also need to consider deployment and merging with the existing systems, staff training, and content creation. healthcare medical software solutions Wondering if augmented reality can help you streamline clinical processes and benefit your patients? Their AR and healthcare experts will develop a solution that corresponds to your unique needs. Drop ITRex a line! Also published on . https://itrexgroup.com/blog/augmented-reality-in-healthcare-applications-examples-tips

A Healthier Reality: The Impacts of AR in Healthcare 

The Case for Automated Clinical Documentation: Can Somebody Please Make This?

Modern technology's quick progression has drastically changed many facets of our daily life. However, the next stage of its development threatens to fundamentally alter how we view reality itself. A cutting-edge technology called spatial computing has the potential to merge the virtual and real worlds and offer customers completely immersive experiences. It can improve our experience of the world by replicating our senses through 3D graphics, audio, and haptics, making it more engaging and participatory. There are a variety of spatial computing options available, from full virtual reality (VR), which completely immerses people in computer-generated settings, to augmented reality (AR), which improves the actual world. With AR, digital elements are superimposed onto the real world. One example is Lumus' Z-Lens, a pair of glasses that superimpose digital data over the user's field of vision. Mixed reality (MR), on the other hand, enables physical and digital components to interact and provides a more immersive experience. With their respective Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro devices, companies like Meta and Apple have debuted MR technology. Full VR experiences, as demonstrated by gadgets like the Meta Quest 2, transport people into fully artificial reality. Spatial computing technology is quickly making its way into numerous devices. Experts estimate that by 2024, almost will have some kind of augmented reality (AR) capability. The adaptability of spatial computing encompasses a broad range of applications. For instance, Augmedics overlays anatomically realistic spinal placements to help surgeons produce better outcomes for their patients, while VRPilot uses virtual reality to evaluate pilots' flying ability prior to operating real aircraft. 1.4 billion gadgets Spatial computing will have an increasing impact on a variety of aspects of our life, including how we work, play, learn, and care for our health.  Holographic calls from any location are likely to be accepted in the workplace of the future. Thanks to spatial computing's improved visualization capabilities, projects may be developed, constructed, and completed in . Documents may no longer require physical monitors and keyboards, allowing for more flexibility and remote work options. 40% less time Significant changes are also expected to occur in the entertainment industry. Users will become fully immersed in the metaverse while creating unique avatars and interacting with a sizable gaming community. The gaming experience will be improved with spatial audio and glasses that conceal the outside environment, blurring the boundaries between reality and the virtual world. Education will also surprisingly  incorporate some concepts from the metaverse, by allowing students to virtually tour historical sites and landmarks. This technology will take the concept of interactive learning to the next level. Spatial computing is a huge shift in technology and has a massive potential to change how we see and interact with the physical world and each other. It will revolutionize how we study, work, play, and take care of our well-being with its applications across a wide range of industries. The lines between the real and digital worlds will continue to dissolve as we embrace this spatial revolution, improving our lives in unimaginable ways.

Exploring the Future of Spatial Computing

Dr. Daniel Freeman at Oxford VR came up with , a worthy-of-its-name cognitive therapy platform. It uses a mix of technologies — with VR at its core — to treat agoraphobic avoidance in patients with psychosis. GameChange The platform puts a patient in lifelike simulations, be it visiting a cafe, a shop, or a doctor’s office, while a therapist walks the patient through the program to let them rethink their defense behaviors. Test results prove that compared to patients who receive usual care alone, those enrolled in immersive therapy have significantly improved their condition. Having assistance like this is invaluable in scaling and increasing the quality of mental care and healthcare in general. So, if you have your mind on taking a leap into the healthcare metaverse or consider turning to a , keep on reading! metaverse development company Below, we describe what immersive technologies — and a mix of them, which the metaverse essentially is — can do for the industry and highlight the challenges that could halt wider adoption of the metaverse in healthcare. Medical metaverse: let’s clear up the definition first The concept of the metaverse has been around for decades. Though it’s Facebook’s turning into Meta that took the topic to the headlines. And now healthcare leaders are taking notice as well. So, let’s see what the metaverse means in the context of digital health. Today’s healthcare tech is mostly dominated by that give users an opportunity to interact with digital content, for instance, manage ERP records or exchange medical images. medical software solutions What pairing up the metaverse and healthcare is about to do is to change the very nature of people/content relationships, rather than simply interact with it. making users experience content The end goal of the healthcare metaverse vendors is to eventually merge the digital and the physical worlds into a collective virtual open space for all kinds of activities to take place — from surgery planning to next-gen to virtual therapy sessions. telemedicine consultations If you wonder how that will be realized, it’s not that complicated. To step into the metaverse, a user will only need a virtual reality (VR) headset, augmented reality (AR) glasses, an inexpensive add-on that turns a smartphone into an extended reality (XR) gadget, or any other XR device. The applications of the metaverse in healthcare The metaverse and healthcare are not a common pairing just yet, but the industry experts agree on its promising value-generating potential. At ITRex, we don’t believe in the digital-only future of healthcare. Still, we do see some aspects of it flourishing in virtual settings. Here’s a rundown of the essential ones. Improving healthcare training and education Leading medical schools have already amplified healthcare training by tapping into AI, VR, and AR development. Bringing the metaverse into healthcare training could help medical schools take a step further and switch to stimulation training. Students, for example, could join virtual settings to watch complex surgeries demonstrated in 3D or even practice conducting one themselves on a digital twin of a human body. Healthcare professionals, too, may use the metaverse to exchange experience (for instance, demonstrate a new diagnosis or treatment method) in digital conference rooms, no matter where they are in the world. On the healthcare education frontier, several startups embracing immersive technologies are quite noticeable. One of them is , a digital medical library featuring immersive training content. Surgical training platforms, like and , are getting in the spotlight, too. These platforms help clinicians practice and automate responses to emergency situations through VR-enabled interactive experiences. Giblib Osso VR Health Scholars Another aspect of how the metaverse improves healthcare training is by allowing healthcare employees, as well as family caregivers, to better understand the experiences of their patients or loved ones. , for example, exploits immersive technologies to help users understand, among other things, what hearing and vision loss may feel like, discover how social isolation associated with certain conditions might impact a patient, or learn to spot and differentiate the symptoms of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Embodied Labs Enhanced medical diagnosis and therapy Beyond education, metaverse technologies can assist healthcare professionals as they plan and complete diagnosis and treatment. Back in 2020, for example, neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins Hospital the institution’s first operation using an augmented reality headset by Augmedics, a surgical assistance pioneer. The surgeon used a see-through eye display that projected the images of a patient’s anatomy to fuse six vertebrae in a patient’s spine in order to cure persistent back pain. So, the solution basically gave the surgeon the needed X-ray vision. performed Medical metaverse environments can be used for surgical planning as well. , for example, allows surgeons to better do preoperative planning by converting patients’ CT scans into 3D reconstructions accessible through headsets. So, surgeons may view, manipulate, and isolate relevant anatomical areas before performing the surgery. InVisionOS Medical metaverse tools could also be used as an amplification to prescribed treatments. This way, assistive therapy solutions, like EaseVR, are getting attention. is a prescription-based solution that uses CBT and other behavioral therapy methods to assist patients with chronic back pain. EaseVR The solution consists of a VR headset and a controller and relies, among other techniques, on deep relaxation, attention-shifting, and interoceptive awareness to address the physiological symptoms of pain. Test results report that at the end of the assisted treatment, 66% of EaseVRx participants reported experiencing less pain, compared to 41% of control participants who received usual care alone. When it comes to , metaverse environments can help extend access to therapy. Along with GameChange we referred to earlier in the article, there are several prominent startups rising on the metaverse and mental health scene. , for example, helps children with autism spectrum disorder practice behavioral skills by placing them in different social contexts. And helps treat neuro-visual impairments, like amblyopia, in children by generating specially modified digital scenes. bettering the population’s mental health Floreo Luminopia Effective patient engagement Due to its immersive, gamified nature, the healthcare metaverse can become a useful means of . High-quality immersive content and gamification features could help clinicians explain complex concepts, walk patients through procedures they’re about to undergo or make sure patients take the prescribed medications. boosting patient engagement Digital twins take a step further in keeping the population informed and engaged. Digital twin solutions, like the one from , for example, combine a patient's vitals, CT scans, medical history records, and genetic test results to create a digital simulation of a patient’s anatomy and physiology, as well as tap into insights about their health. Q Bio So, patients could see all of their health data visualized beautifully on a virtual dashboard and share it with clinicians, nutritionists, and researchers for individual care plans. Next-gen telemedicine Since the beginning of the pandemic, the provisioning of healthcare as a remote service has peaked. The tendency is expected to carry on in the metaverse. But with the engaging, immersive experiences the healthcare metaverse could offer, it would open a new range of opportunities for both patients and healthcare providers. Compared to videoconferencing that is in use today, the healthcare metaverse could convey a far greater feeling of being present, which could help patients feel more at ease with the medical staff. Clinicians, in turn, could get a more thorough picture of a patient's health condition. Although the telemedicine market is still predominantly video-based, a number of metaverse startups have already entered the scene. One of them is ThirdEye. The company offers to access live video and audio communication with remote physicians — all in real time. By using the AR solution, first responders can interface directly with a see-what-I-see platform and live stream emergency situations to offsite clinicians. AR glasses for first responders High-touch brand interactions The metaverse could add a human touch and personalization to healthcare and pharma brand campaigns. Stepping in the metaverse, healthcare and pharma brands can host events for those who can’t attend in person or reach out to new audiences through immersive advertising. Despite the sector’s long-held reputation of digital timidity, healthcare and pharma are ready to move forward, experts estimate. GCI Health EVP and US Head of Digital and Innovation states: Kristin Mengel Ryan “Healthcare organizations are ready to commit, even if they lack clarity around budgeting for metaverse initiatives. Pharma has done a good job recruiting digital talent, and in the last two years they’ve radically accelerated adoption of digital.” While the market is considering opportunities, some pioneers have already ventured into the metaverse. For example, , a top healthcare advertising agency, has recently presented a metaverse primer for internal and external audiences that drew a record number of visitors. Area 23 Other big industry players are keeping up as well. Back in 2021, Pfizer hosted an event, where Grand Theft Auto players could get vaccinated in roleplay as part of the company’s campaign. CVS, too, is attempting to trademark pharmacy, health clinics, and retail goods in the metaverse, and is offering virtual wellness and nutrition coaching. Metaverse in healthcare: the challenges that lie ahead Like all new technologies, the metaverse comes with its hurdles. Gaining wider use, the metaverse could cause healthcare inequities associated with device ownership, digital literacy, and internet accessibility. Moreover, virtual entities like digital twins raise questions regarding healthcare data ownership and privacy. At ITRex, we see the following challenges halting a wider adoption of the metaverse in healthcare: : The industry has to think over the aspects of data ownership and privacy and develop for protecting sensitive patient information Data privacy and security new mechanisms and regulations : To realize the full potential of the metaverse, healthcare organizations would need to invest in high-tech hardware, like headsets, gloves, and other needed wearables. So, initially, the technology is likely to be limited to those who can afford it. Also, the cost of the metaverse solutions infrastructure is expected to be quite high as it requires high-end connectivity, especially when it comes to such use cases as surgical assistance High upfront costs : The essential component of the current healthcare paradigm, interoperability is yet to be addressed when it comes to the healthcare metaverse. Unless the entire industry adjusts the current data and communication standards, the adoption of the metaverse is likely to be slowed down Interoperability : It’s only natural that patients may feel skeptical about receiving treatment online, so they would have to be educated on the specifics, opportunities, and limitations of the healthcare metaverse settings A lack of trust Metaverse and healthcare: another gimmick or a viable alternative to traditional patient care technologies Healthcare metaverse technologies are still nascent and unlikely to take over the market for another few years. Yet industry experts believe healthcare organizations may start to “dip their toes in the water”. According to Emma Chiu, Global Director at Wunderman Thomson Intelligence, healthcare organizations considering metaverse tech must remember just how important technology is to most people. The company’s recent report revealed that 93% of respondents believe technology is the future, 81% stated that a brand’s digital presence is as important as a physical one, and 76% noted that their everyday lives depend on technology. “Into the Metaverse” Technology also makes people feel better, the report found, with 88% of Gen Z survey participants and 85% of millennials saying they use tech to unwind. Ms. Chiu also points out that there’s a clear link between technology and wellness with 55% of respondents indicating that technology makes them physically healthier and 56% stating that tech improves their mental health. Metaverse healthcare applications are also expected to improve in the coming years, bringing about a positive change — be it scaling access to therapeutic environments, breaking down barriers for seniors and people with disabilities, or making it easier for people to participate in research. Still, although people are indeed interested in digital services, the cumbersome digital experience would rather turn them off, . Concerns over the metaverse’s privacy, security, and trust remain, too, amplified by the difficulties of integrating new tools into day-to-day clinical workflows. according to Gartner So, if you don’t want to miss out on the new opportunities the metaverse and healthcare duo could drive but you’re still unsure about the impact of the novel technology, it’s only natural to take small steps. Bring in a touch of the metaverse experience into the areas that are not directly connected to the clinical workflows. Alec Pollak, SVP for group omnichannel strategy at Area 23 advises: “The opportunity to advertise in a game, for example, represents a nice first step and one that doesn’t require a big commitment.” If you have unanswered questions regarding the metaverse and healthcare combo or are ready to take the first step into the metaverse, — we’ll help! contact our experts Also published . here

The Metaverse and Healthcare: Opportunities, Challenges, and Tips for Tech Pioneers

Integrating augmented reality in healthcare is a common occurrence in 2020. The sphere is constantly growing encouraging lots of medical institutions to put up in it. Reports and Data that AR/VR in the healthcare market will attain a value of $7+ Billion by 2026. Healthcare organizations decide to invest in AR after examining all the advantages it brings in. predicted In this post, we will show how medical institutions can benefit from AR and where it can be implemented. Advantages of Implementing Augmented Reality in Healthcare AR increases patient satisfaction Like in any business, AR will definitely improve customer or patient experience. There are that help children come through procedures easier by putting them into an enjoyable virtual environment. This helps to relieve stress and as a result, improves the service quality. apps Also, there are AR devices that let the patients see the processes inside their organisms. Anyway, AR integration will enhance patient satisfaction with the treatment process. AR increases employees’ productivity As in the previous paragraph, augmented reality also makes the work of medical staff more effective. First, it can simplify and increase the speed of surgeons’ work. Second, such tools help patients communicate with their doctors remotely without wasting time to attend the hospital. And third, the doctors can modify treatment by a couple of clicks which frees their time up for more important activities. AR helps to evaluate and reduce risks Doctors’ job is always risky to some extent. Their errors result in complaints from patients, and even litigations that threaten the hospital’s status. But applying AR to diagnosis can help physicians reduce the probability of mistakes. Also, using AR glasses replaces several important devices that display images and statistics. How to Implement Augmented Reality in Healthcare 1. AR in healthcare for data visualization Sometimes patients can’t describe what is the problem, especially if they have little medical knowledge. Here, AR technology can help them the symptoms more accurately; this speeds up the work of diagnosticians. 2. AR for diagnostics Augmented reality can also improve in the diagnostics process — one of the most important steps of treatment. AR helps detect and determine the right treatment for various illnesses. Using some AR gadgets and tools, doctors may separate the image of the patients’ bodies into layers to find what is the reason for the conditions. 3. AR for staff training AR technology allows medical specialists to explore the human body, its elements, and mechanisms in detail. Training like this is extremely useful for practicing how to behave while emergencies. Also, members of a surgical team can learn how to assist the surgeon during complicated operations: the person can not only watch but also take part in the process without risking the patient’s life. 4. Augmented reality for a surgery practice AR is a very popular technology in surgery practice as the surgeon can examine 3D projections of organs similar to an X-ray shot to plan what to do next. For example, Augmedics decided to apply this idea to such a complex operation as spinal surgery to simplify it and decrease the risks of complications. 5. AR for patient-doctor interaction Doctor consultation is a key component of the treatment success as it helps to determine if the patient is getting better and adjust the treatment if needed. But sometimes it is impossible to provide constant communication with the doctor. Thus, AR implementation is a good solution to the problem. The doctor gets the opportunity to ensure regular eye-to-eye contact and even some vital services like pulse measurement and emotion reading. 6. AR for finding veins Sometimes the patients’ veins are not visible to the naked eye and the needle insertion becomes painful and stressful to people, especially children. For those purposes, the AccuVein tool was created. The app uses a portable scanner to create a projection of the veins on the patient’s skin to insert the needle on the first try. Conclusion All in all, it’s easy to understand why healthcare organizations are craving for using AR in their daily activities. It really helps get on with clients better, simplify the doctors’ work, and reduce some risks. Some of the possible AR solutions in healthcare may include data visualization tools, apps for diagnostics, medical education apps for both professionals and ordinary people, surgery assistance instruments, doctor consultation applications, and apps for finding veins. It’s up to you to choose what branch of medicine to evolve to become a leading expert in implementing augmented reality in healthcare. VironIT engineers are proficient in the area of AR development; they can implement any of your application ideas using a well-balanced technology stack. If you want to create an AR app for the healthcare industry, feel free to . contact us

Augmented Reality Application In The Healthcare Industry

The Alliance For Creativity and Entertainment has been quietly comandeering more pirate site domains, presumably as part of settlement arrangements with their former owners. One domain relates to a previously announced case but three others, all connected to pirate IPTV, are reported today for the first time. The Alliance for Creativity Entertainment (ACE) is the largest anti-piracy coalition in history. It pools the resources of all the major Hollywood studios plus Netflix, Amazon and dozens of other companies to tackle piracy on a global scale. ACE has made many announcements over the past couple of years celebrating successful conclusions to multiple operations. Most relate to closures of file-hosting services, IPTV providers and other platforms involved in the unlicensed streaming of movies and TV shows. However, for reasons best known to the coalition, not all of its investigations are publicized. Many fly under the radar until visitors to once-active websites find themselves being directed to the ACE anti-piracy portal when they expected to find a ‘pirate’ platform. According to information obtained by TorrentFreak, four new domains have recently begun redirecting to ACE. The first, ausmediastreaming.com.au, comes as no surprise. In early March, ACE revealed that it had secured the closure of the IPTV supplier following a cease-and-desist order. “The closure of Aus Media Streaming is the latest in a series of victories that can protect Australian creators and ensure that legal services can continue to thrive,” said Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel of the Motion Picture Association. The second fresh domain under ACE/MPA control is watchmoviesfree.com.au. When it was online, the site asked prospective customers whether they wanted to watch “Every single movie, TV show, sporting event, documentary, kids TV and movie ever made, free?” Concluding that the answer must be “Of course you do”, the site then went on to offer Android-based set-top devices named Octo-Ninja and Ninja-Quad. It’s unclear what was in those devices but either a pre-loaded setup and/or a subscription-based IPTV service seems likely. Before it was taken down, the domain offered an Australian telephone number for people to get in touch. EmpireTV.ca is the third domain. According to its now disappeared website and Facebook pages, it claimed to be the “top streaming service in Canada”, offering over 5,000 channels plus on-demand movies, TV shows, PPV and more from $9.99 per month. Various packages were made available by the site, varying in price according to subscription length and levels of content available. The site was previously targeted in a after supplying German football content without permission. It also had a detailed disclaimer that clearly didn’t cut much ice with ACE. DMCA complaint “We have no association with any of the IP channels shown or any of these products. TV channels and video content of the services are being provided without any liability from us regarding copyrights,” it began. “Per our knowledge all channels provided by the server sellers abide by all relevant countries copyright laws and any copyright issues must be taken up directly with the server owners. EMPIRETV.CA does not take any liability as to what is aired on the servers and EMPIRETV.CA have NO control over the servers or streams.” With EmpireTV.ca now redirecting to the ACE portal, the fourth domain to be placed under the anti-piracy group’s control (or more accurately, that of the MPA) is ZeddIPTV.com. Little is known about this supplier but given that it was previously offered via classified listings in Australia, it may have been focused on that region. Although nothing has been officially confirmed by ACE in respect of ‘seizing’ any of these domains, it seems likely that following pressure from the anti-piracy group, domains were handed over as part of a settlement. ACE has shuttered close to three dozen operations to date but publicized just a few. Originally published as “ ACE Coalition Seizes Four More ‘Pirate’ IPTV Domains ” with the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) license

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