First ever live VR surgery will be broadcast on April 14

Mumbai: Gone are the days when virtual reality (VR) was just a mere form of entertainment and confined to the gaming industry. After incessant research and development operations conducted by some of the top tech vanguards in the world, VR is now a prominent technology utilised is many sectors including health, entertainment, tourism, education and many more.

Coming to the health sector, VR has earlier been used for surgeries but for the first time viewers, all around the globe, will be able to witness a live VR surgery.

According to a report published on Wired, a surgeon, cancer specialist, and co-founder of VR firm Medical Realities, Dr Shafi Ahmed, is going to conduct a tumour removal operation on a Londaon-based man in his 70’s.

While that might be a routine operation, this will be the first instance where a 360-degree camera rig will be mounted over the operating table. This will capture all the movements of the doctors involved in 4K and live stream it globally.  

The report also pointed out that the man, on whom the operation will be conducted, allowed Ahmed to go ahead with the initiative, which he hopes will help in teaching medicine to budding medical students and enthusiasts around the globe.

To follow the two-hour-long operation, individuals need Medical Realities’ mobile app and a cardboard headset (Google cardboard).