Virtual reality is not only limited to gaming, this innovation is a leading trend in healthcare. The Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training (CADET) VR Lab in Deakin University, Australia, facilitates automatic virtual environment with a computer-aided design which gives hands-on experience to training junior doctors and midwives in a virtual world. Professor Guy Littlefair, Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry Development at Deakin University, reveals more in an interaction with Prathiba Raju
What made you set up the first VR Lab? What are its unique features?
CADET’s Virtual Reality (VR) Lab is the first-of-its-kind in the world. This is due to facilitate a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE), a computer-aided design (CAD) wall and a large-scale haptic device in one facility. This means a participant, for example, a trainee doctor or a midwife is able to walk around through virtual objects in a virtual world, and imagine products and treat them.
The VR CAVE was set up to support research and teaching opportunities in design. More recently, we have realised the potential of utilising the facility for human factors-based research and training of industry operatives facing hazardous or unusual situations – fire fighters; ambulance staff; construction workers, etc.
Moving from traditional theory-based model of learning inside a static lecture theatre, your programme offers virtual learning. How will it help the students?
The move from traditional lecture-based delivery to more of a problem or design-based curriculum allows students to create their own learning opportunities and not rely constantly on the expert to guide them. This, in so many ways, mirrors what real life is outside of the confines of the university.
What other innovative programmes in healthcare are you focusing on like the midwifery programme?
We are using a deployable and haptically-enabled VR system for training of midwives on virtual situations. Again, this allows the students to be exposed to experiences which otherwise they would only encounter for real or may actually not encounter until in the child delivery situation which is clearly far from ideal.
Do you think the VR Labs would be an apt fit for a country like India, with such low doctor to patient ratio? How will it help?
In terms of training, VR Labs would be an absolute fit. It enables training junior doctors on all difficult case studies which could otherwise take years of clinical exposure to cover off on.
Deakin University already has tie-ups with Hyderabad-based engineering firm Cyient. Are you looking out for similar tie-ups with medical colleges? Is there anything on the pipeline?
Deakin is a comprehensive and progressive university with a long history of supporting India. Presently, we are working on the development of collaborative research and development projects with a number of universities, industries and research organisations.
How useful would 3D bio technology be in the medical field?
In many ways, this will be the future of pharmaceutical development and deployment in the future. There is tremendous potential and we are likely to see significant disruption in the coming years.
What are the milestones that the medical fraternity will witness via 3D bio printing?
Producing scaffolds to allow tissue cells to be grown to reproduce human parts, will be one of the milestones.
How will digital fabrication help in implants of human organs? What would be its future?
In years to come, human implants will invariably and inevitably be produced through digital manufacturing means. This will improve the lives of millions of people and ensure that society will benefit as a direct consequence. The future seems to be very exciting as engineering, science and medicine mesh together.
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