Response to Chunguang Liu’s “VR in Medical Education.”

Chunguang Liu’s article touches on the need for virtual reality in the medical field. Posing the idea that virtual reality should be used to train medical students in the specialties they plan to go into. This isn’t to say that Virtual reality isn’t already being used in the medical field. One of the first virtual reality games that was a hit was actually a cartoony surgery simulation named “Surgeon Simulator.” While it wasn’t an accurate simulation it drew many consumers into virtual reality. There have been many improvements as it stands.

A surgeon’s first surgery is a scary idea. We’re letting someone who has never done surgery before operating on a living human that could be seriously injured or killed if that new surgeon makes even a simple mistake. This isn’t to say that we haven’t found ways to make it easier for them already. Chunguang said, “The surgical simulator is significant and meaningful (Chunguang,2018).” This was to say that it is a step in the right direction. If it is worked off of in a more professional manner it could become a staple in medical education.

Chunguang also touched upon the use of virtual reality in therapy. This could be used to help people get over their fears. Exposing them to the thing they fear most in a secure and virtual environment could condition them to better be able to cope with it. Not to mention the peace someone could be put in by immersing themselves in a calm and beautiful virtual environment. Some people could do something as simple as exploring a plain filled with grass and flowers and all the things people see as synonymous with happiness. All in the comfort of their home one could fix many of their own issues with what will become increasingly more affordable.

Liu, C. (2018). VR in Medical Education. [Blog] Available at: https://medium.com/@chunguan/1-c331b6ddb2c4 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2018].