Virtual reality (VR) is an advanced computer technology that recreates 3D environments. It lets users interact with virtual worlds on different devices. Virtual reality is viewed via mobile device screens, head-mounted displays, or VR goggles. VR lets users interact with 3D models of bodies and environments in a way that is first-person. These models are called avatars.
Ivan Sutherland, a Harvard University professor in 1968, invented an eye-mounted display that was a viable option (figure 1-17). The system included miniature cathode-ray tubes that gave stereoscopic visual images to each eye and mechanical and ultrasonic tracking that allowed users to move within a virtual space. The development of the VR technology platform has been fueled by the advancements in computer processing and the creation of new computer graphics technology. Oxford Medical Systems (the predecessor to Vicon Motion Systems) develops the first commercial Motion Capture (MoCap), system in 1984. Silicon Graphics, Inc. is the company that develops the VLSI Graphics Engine which provides high-speed workstations used by many VR facilities for decades.
VR has been proven to increase knowledge and abilities in health professions education compared with less interactive digital learning interventions however it isn’t certain if these effects translate into outcomes for patients. VR has also been found to decrease stress levels for patients and health care providers. Nijland et al found that ICU nurses who utilized VR relaxation during their break time experienced significantly lower stress levels than nurses who didn’t use VR. However it is crucial to be aware that the duration of the VR application can lead to hyperstimulation or cybersickness among some patients.
