许多国家正在大力开发虚拟技术,逐渐成熟的虚拟技术也正被广泛应用于各个领域。比如在医学方面虚拟技术就能帮助医学院解决很多现实问题。 - S5 D4 }+ x* C C
VR在医学方面的应用具有十分重要的现实意义。在虚拟环境中,可以建立虚拟的人体模型,借助于跟踪球、HMD、感觉手套,学生可以很容易了解人体内部各器官结构,这比现有的采用教科书的方式要有效得多。Pieper及Satara等研究者在90年代初基于两个SGI工作站建立了一个虚拟外科手术训练器,用于腿部及腹部外科手术模拟。这个虚拟的环境包括虚拟的手术台与手术灯,虚拟的外科工具(如手术刀、注射器、手术钳等),虚拟的人体模型与器官等。借助于HMD及感觉手套,使用者可以对虚拟的人体模型进行手术。
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* G3 _( _3 V1 K4 F* Y1 h Some cancer patients are discovering that virtual reality isn’t just for cyber geeks., j/ O) h. f4 e) ^, Q: K7 b7 c
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Virtual reality is helping patients cope with chemotherapy. First of all, virtual reality isn’t simply video games, but it’s defined as away for humans to become immersed in a computer-generated environment in a naturalistic fashion. The distraction of a virtual world significantly reduces the adverse effects of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer patients.
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Some patients say that it’s not just the chemotherapy itself that makes them ill, but it’s other cancer patients. Sharing a room with other people undergoing the same treatment can make it that much more difficult for some people to relax. With the help of virtual reality,they report less fatigue, as well as fewer distress symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Currently, virtual reality is being tested for its effectiveness in easing the experience of chemo for patients with other cancers as well.( d" o1 Y) Z: `+ W2 H) b
; B* G) F. u& Z8 z# L& c The virtual reality programs being provided to cancer patients are chosen carefully, so that they’re interactive enough to help distract patients, but without overstimulating them. Scenarios used engage the participant in touring an art gallery, going deep-sea diving, or solving a mystery.
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" [" e( F' X4 m. y+ q9 ] Virtual realities are also being used in a variety of other medical applications, from surgical training to the treatment of body image . |