What are immersive technologies? What’s the difference between augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality? How have they been used in healthcare? What is the Metaverse? Is the Metaverse just a fad or the future of healthcare? Join me in this course as we explore the answers to these questions.
Requirements
• Basic computer knowledge on how to access and navigate the course is mandatory
• Ideal to have some familiarity with healthcare and/or healthcare education, but not mandatory
• Some basic knowledge of extended reality will be advantageous
• No background in computer science is required
• Motivation to learn
This is an introductory course for beginners who want to know about the current trends of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, and how these technologies have been applied in healthcare. This course will also introduce the Metaverse, and its benefits and challenges when applied in the patient care setting.
How long will it take to complete this course?
Over 2 hours of lectures, an assignment and a quiz.
What is this course about?
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an uphill interest in the use of extended reality technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR), in healthcare and healthcare education. As countries transit to an endemic stage, the adoption of VR/AR/MR tools in healthcare and healthcare education will continue to rise, especially in situations where patient or learner connections need to be fostered with limited physical contact. A key feature of VR/AR/MR technologies is the ability to immerse the user in virtual environments and/or augment the user’s activities through virtual objects. These immersive technologies are rapidly evolving and will become increasingly accessible to organizations, institutions and individuals. With the hype of the Metaverse being the new version of the Internet, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities for various industries, including healthcare. Many tech giants and large companies/organizations are taking the leap and finding new ways to navigate the Metaverse for their business needs. As the world starts to embrace this digital shift, will the healthcare sector be able to keep up with the advancements in immersive technologies?
This course aims to provide an overview of the concepts and application trends of VR/AR/MR in healthcare and healthcare education, as well as an insight into how the Metaverse may potentially impact patient care. In this course, you will gain an understanding of the basic concepts of VR/AR/MR technologies, as well as their roles in the Gartner Hype Cycle. You will explore some of the healthcare applications that use these immersive technologies, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, you will explore the potential of the Metaverse in healthcare, and investigate some of the benefits and challenges associated with its adoption in clinical practices.
What are the benefits of doing this course?
• Develop a deeper understanding of how immersive technologies and the Metaverse ecosystem can be applied in healthcare and healthcare education
• Apply your knowledge, skills and understanding on what are the considerations when designing and developing healthcare innovations involving immersive technologies