This technology is providing doctors with a virtual view of real world organs during surgeries.
Fraunhofer MEVIS, a research institute in Germany, has now created an app that gives surgeons the opportunity to use an iPad device as an augmented reality viewfinder in the real time to assist them during operations.
The app provides doctors with the ability to better plan their surgeries and to use digital overlays of primary blood vessels.
This use of technology could provide a meaningful amount of assistance to doctors who are frequently required to memorize the precise locations of a person’s blood vessels so that they can avoid them during a surgical procedure. By complementing that practice with a system based on augmented reality would mean that they would have reminder support that could be effective enough that it could save lives.
The augmented reality system is still in need of some fine tuning as it remains somewhat on the clunky side.
Though the concept of using augmented reality this way may seem promising, it has a number of glitches that still need to be worked out, because it is not possible for a surgeon to actually use the technology on his or her own during an operation. To use the tablet at the same time that an operation is taking place, another pair of hands is required, and that individual will need to be able to hold it up and at the perfect angle throughout length and challenging surgeries.
The solution that seems most obvious for this problem is to introduce the system based on augmented reality to a device that is hands free, such as the Google Glass head mounted product. Though it doesn’t look as though Fraunhofer MEVIS is currently working on that type of project, it does have teams that are examining different ways to be able to project the surgical planning data directly onto the individual who is receiving the procedure and on his or her organs. The team is also working on systems that would give doctors the ability to use a gesture to be able to access the device, instead of the touchscreen.
The auto manufacturer’s A3 now has a new mobile friendly guide for more convenient support.
Audi has just announced the release of its A3 eKurzinfo app that allows owners to use the power of augmented reality in order to obtain more information about their vehicles for maintenance, repairs, and an overall understanding of its features.
The app makes certain that a convenient copy of the owner’s manual is always available.
The augmented reality services makes it possible for drivers and passengers to avoid having to dig through the glove compartment and try to figure out where the information they require can be found within the grease dabbed print copy of the manual. Instead, a smartphone or tablet can be used along with the app to gain all of the information needed about a certain vehicle feature, or even about a light that has been illuminated on the dash display.
The app uses an augmented reality OBD2 scanner to identify over 300 elements of the vehicle.
While this service is not meant for making a diagnosis of a problem with the vehicle, it can help to identify over 300 different parts of the car and provide information about them. This is further supported with maintenance and how-to information.
The application was developed by Mataio, an augmented reality software company. It was created for Audi AG and uses both 2D and 3D tracking technology to allow the eKurzinfo app to provide a user with information about various parts of the car. To use it, the app needs to be opened, and then the smartphone or tablet camera must be aimed at the part of the vehicle to be identified or about which more information is needed.
The information provided by this augmented reality experience is designed to mirror what is available in the printed version of the manual. However, the benefit is that the application is designed to identify the applicable part on its own, which could considerably reduce the amount of reading and searching that could otherwise be required in order to pinpoint exactly what a part or issue could be. Moreover, the supporting information such as maintenance information helps to save the vehicle owner from having to Google it after having found out what it is, as it will already be provided.
