Human Interface Technology
Human interface technology is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use. Computers make it possible for a technology to do many different tasks and react to commands from the user in efficient, effective, and appealing ways (IT Exponent, School of Information Studies). On a daily basis, humans interact with many myriad forms of technology, our coffee makers, our cars, our smart phones, computers, even doors that open automatically. We do this easily and without thinking of the wonder of that interaction. Medical applications of this interface are also myriad, from smart phone apps to track your diet and exercise progress, to telemedicine opportunities, and further to robotic surgeries and the uses of virtual reality.
There are many uses to virtual reality in the medical community. The one that I found most interesting, having a background in caring for patients with extensive burns to their bodies was the use of the application for the reduction of pain during the burn care process. Normal burn care is an extensive and painful process, generally requiring large amounts of medication to be tolerated. It has always been known that the introduction of some sort of distraction, music or television generally, could help reduce the pain associated with this daily care. Now researchers have not only achieved anecdotal pain relief as reported by patients, but have studied MRI results of patients that have shown that individuals who were engaged in virtual reality during the testing have displayed reduction of pain-related brain activity. The United States Army is utilizing this type of therapy for its wounded veterans. The veteran is shown to be receiving wound care for his burns while engaged in playing in the virtual reality SnowWorld. No only does this provide distraction, but as the developer of the game notes, snow is the opposite of fire.
Another way to utilize virtual reality in the medical community is through the treatment of phobias. A similar application to SnowWorld, SpiderWorld was created to help ease the phobia of spiders among its participants with great success. In this video, the doctor explains that overcoming social phobias is difficult, but with the use of virtual reality, the process can be made easier and more convenient.
Both of these are useful, adaptable, and forward thinking ways for the human technology interface we use everyday to aid the medical community. Imagine what is left to discover on the implementations for this fantastic science.
References
Hoffman, H.G. (2014) Virtual reality therapy. Scientific American. August. 58-65.
How do doctors use virtual reality to treat phobias? How Stuff Works. Retrieved from
Human interface technology. IT Exponent. Retrieved from
http://itexponent.ischool.syr.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:hit&catid=39:aet&Itemid=62
Virtual reality pain reduction. University of Washington Seattle and U.W. Harborview Burn Center. Retrieved from
Virtual reality video game to help burn patients play their way to pain relief. (2008). Science Daily. Retrieved from
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