The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset offers many new types of experiences, but its latest use may one day save your life. The Rift is currently being used by med students to view surgeries from a first-person perspective. After a donation from the MOVEO Foundation, surgeons have begun recording medical procedures using GoPro’s Dual HERO system, which captures video from two GoPro cameras, then converts it to 3D in post-production. In the past, med students could only experience a surgery from a first-person perspective by being in the room, but that means there was a chance some of the process and techniques would be missed. With Oculus Rift, though, med students can see the surgery first-hand, then re-live it all through the surgeon’s eyes. Experts say the Oculus, which is owned by Facebook, likely won’t become a medical device, because Facebook won’t want to deal with the FDA. But this trial run shows one of the endless possibilities of virtual reality, and offers a possible glimpse into the future of medicine.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.