V.R. Technology Finds Ready And Willing Market in Healthcare

It’s not video games yet its success is none-the-less impressive. Healthcare virtual reality (VR) applications have experienced double-digit growth both worldwide and in the U.S. since the turn of the century, and the 2010 U.S. market for virtual reality in surgery, medical education, therapy and other areas will grow to $290 million, a new report from life science research firm Kalorama Information.

Having been the driving force in the entertainment, gaming and engineering industries, virtual reality applications are now starting to revolutionize the global healthcare industry. More accurate and sophisticated than conventional two- dimensional scans, VR applications provide opportunities to perform medical tasks in a risk-free environment and make training assessable to large numbers of students. Additionally, VR simulators allow medical professionals to remain up-to-date on the latest technical procedures required in their profession.

“While still at a very nascent stage of commercialization, VR technologies are being widely used by the Department of Defense, medical schools and hospitals, and manufacturers of medical equipment on a variety of levels with significant benefit,” notes Steven Heffner, Executive Publisher of Kalorama Information. “The establishment of industry standards should lead to rapid commercialization of products, and ongoing technological advancements will only further the market, particularly in the surgery segment.”

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