MUMBAI - On average, we spend almost seven hours a day looking at screens for Internet-connected activities.¹In terms of screens we have evolved over the years from televisions to computers and now smartphones. Today, we have virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), changing how we use screens and creating immersive experiences. VR headsets transport you into a computer-generated or virtual world, whereas AR places digital images on the actual world around you.²

You can explore a jungle, e.g., using VR and experience a tiger walking alongside you in the real-world using AR. Initially, people mostly used VR in gaming, raising the level of excitement among gamers. OculusQuest, developed by Oculus, a division of Facebook, is an independent VR device that lets you play soccer with someone, throw a ball, or walk around a three-dimensional (3D) screen.³Various sectors such as education, training, and construction started gradually embracing these technologies, and the healthcare industry is no exception.⁴ 

VR/AR in Healthcare

VR and AR tools are user-friendly and accessible, making it easier for healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality, patient-centric care.⁵If one can play virtual soccer, it should be possible to do surgery training where both the doctor and patient can see the same thing. The applications of VR and AR in healthcare are immense, so much so that the VR healthcare market is expected to generate more than US$40 billion in revenue by 2026.⁶With VR, you can conduct intricate surgeries, offer result-oriented therapies, train healthcare professionals, and even educate patients.⁷ 

Researchers can talk to their team members irrespective of location by using AR, e.g., a hologram with a four-dimensional experience. Healthcare insti