VMASC TO HOST VIRTUAL REALITY MEDICAL OPERATION OVER INTERNET2 NETWORK TODAY
The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, an enterprise center of Old Dominion University's College of Engineering and Technology, will host one of the nation's first demonstrations of medical training using virtual reality technology over Internet2 networks at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 in Old Dominion's Gornto TELETECHNET Center, Room 422.
The demonstration will showcase an emergency medical training session (a medical operation) at the University of Michigan, and will be shown via Internet2 and Ethereal Technologies' Four-Dimensional Volumetric Imaging System (VIS4D).
This demonstration will provide a first ever opportunity to assess the benefits of generating three-dimensional images in the context of advanced life support training and, possibly, other medical applications. It will also take full advantage of the high-performance Internet capabilities of the Internet2 Abilene network to support real-time digital video (MPEG) and Human Patient Simulator control information.
The demonstration will implement elements of The Medical Readiness Trainer developed by the Medical Simulation and Modeling Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and Ethereal Technologies' Four-Dimensional Volumetric Imaging System (VIS4D) volumetric imaging technology.
This new virtual reality technology, which is being developed by Ethereal Technologies in Ann Arbor, Mich., is best described as a volumetric imaging workstation consisting of patented optics and a patented flexible membrane mirror. When used with PCs, flat-panel displays or high-end workstations, a "floating" hologram-like image can be viewed and interacted with in real time, without the use of glasses or a helmet-mounted display.
The Medical Readiness Trainer Project is an ultra-modern platform for comprehensive medical training at all levels of proficiency. The MRT combines Human Patient Simulators (HPS), state-of-the-art telecommunications and fully immersive virtual reality. The combined result of these technologies creates a hyper-rich situational environment, which recreates the "real life" world of clinical medicine, and most of its adrenaline-charging challenges.