VR innovations touch each industry across the board

Emerging Tech Roundup — November 4

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Brain implant enables verbal communication, VR is used for improved surgery prep, the Navy uses VR in recruiting process, Sony Pictures VR teases its upcoming Ghostbusters game, tennis players better skills with VR, dental students use VR to vary their experience and VR is used to spread marine biology knowledge.

New implant turns brain waves into words

(IEEE Spectrum, October 29)

A research team at the University of California, San Francisco is working on a prosthetic device that can help nonverbal people communicate more easily. The device uses an electrode array to record and convert neural signals into messages. The implant was built based on a decade of research and the team is working hard to make it “safe, stable, and reliable enough for everyday use at home.”

Researchers find the use of VR to be promising in transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures

(AuntMinnieEurope, October 31)

A research group at Quironsalud Teknon Heart Institute is using VR to revamp and fine-tune surgical procedures. Before operating, surgeons can “visualize the aortic valve access route and the ‘landing zone’ for the artificial valve to be implanted.” When using VR in the preparation for the procedure, surgeons have a lot more visibility and can form a more accurate, personalized plan of action for each patient. There have been 11 patients in the study thus far, and the use of VR helped surgeons “modify the implant strategy in 45.4% of the cases.”

Navy recruiters send Montgomery Co. students on a VR mission

(WTOP, October 31)

Navy recruiters are using VR to let students experience a sneak peek of what it’s like to be a war zone using headsets, headphones and vibrating backpacks. Students at Clarksburg High School were able to partake in a VR mission, similar to what they would experience in a live war zone. The participants said the experience was very realistic and helped them figure out “if they’re able to cope under that sort of pressure,” helping them make a better informed decision around joining the military.

Sony Pictures VR announces release window for its Ghostbusters VR game

(IGN, October 31)

Sony Pictures VR has announced that it will be releasing Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord in 2023, around the same time it plans to release its new headset. The game will send users on ghost-busting missions and be available for solo or multiplayer gaming, supporting up to 3 players. Users will be able to play on both Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR2 headsets.

Tennis players turn to VR as ‘game changer’ when they’re off court

(USA Today, November 3)

Tennis players Jennifer Brady and Jack Sock both said they have recently found high value in VR as additional preparation for matches. Although it does not match the on-court inexperience perfectly, the VR training allows them to practice alternate areas of the sport independently and off-court. The two players noted that extra practice in “reaction speed, anticipation, cognitive skills, and even solving little equations” has been quite helpful for them.

UQ’s School of Dentistry uses AR/VR technologies to teach dental students

(News Medical, November 3)

The University of Queensland dentistry students are using AR/VR headsets to better prepare for working in the field. Before working on real patients, students participate in a VR simulation with a virtual patient, through which they can even practice giving local anesthesia. Educators believe the added training to be adding varied experience and creating “well-rounded health professionals.”

Using Virtual Reality to Connect with the Ocean

(Meta Newsroom, October 6)

Marine biologist Dr. Erika W. spreads knowledge by “taking the ocean to everyone” via VR headsets. Her educational nonprofit The Hydrous has been able to vastly grow in its knowledge-spreading capabilities, with VR allowing for access to any and all marine environments. Dr. Erika believes that upon immersing people to be one with the ocean, there is a new sense of community and they will better care for the space.