The first time I have ever had a project under control, having finished it the night before the deadline. I went and lost my CD on the way to college. Moral of the story, stupidity breeds stupidity….ended up one hour late, marked zero.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Monday, 17 November 2008
Dissertation: Initial ideas
first -
"We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us." Marshall McLuhan
This idea would be set on the basis that as human beings we create technology to make our lives easier. However as a result, technology is becoming more and more intelligent as we become less intelligent or less inclined to think for ourselves.
This is already leading to technology telling us what to do in our everyday lives and we are ok with that. In some cases rather it, why is this? Are we becoming slaves to the very technology that we created to be used as a tool? In our hierarchy disciplined world will technology become the “wolf” and mankind the “sheep”?
second -
This idea is based on a title I coined because of the success of online environments “our very own self induced virtual prison”.
At present virtual worlds such as “second life” and “world of war craft” have developed into environments where millions of people world wide “live” for hours on end, daily. Some become completely immersed to such an extent that they are at the mercy of the computer. There online identity desired far more than there real life one. If this trend continues will these computer generated environments, which are completely rule oriented (meaning these rules cannot be broken), be our very own self induced virtual prison?
Will people for example, one day in the future when the technology is completely immersive, decide to go on holiday for free in “second life” to a perfect three dimensional representation of a city or decide to pay and go through all the hassle involved with travelling to that same city in reality? Only time will tell...
"We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us." Marshall McLuhan
This idea would be set on the basis that as human beings we create technology to make our lives easier. However as a result, technology is becoming more and more intelligent as we become less intelligent or less inclined to think for ourselves.
This is already leading to technology telling us what to do in our everyday lives and we are ok with that. In some cases rather it, why is this? Are we becoming slaves to the very technology that we created to be used as a tool? In our hierarchy disciplined world will technology become the “wolf” and mankind the “sheep”?
second -
This idea is based on a title I coined because of the success of online environments “our very own self induced virtual prison”.
At present virtual worlds such as “second life” and “world of war craft” have developed into environments where millions of people world wide “live” for hours on end, daily. Some become completely immersed to such an extent that they are at the mercy of the computer. There online identity desired far more than there real life one. If this trend continues will these computer generated environments, which are completely rule oriented (meaning these rules cannot be broken), be our very own self induced virtual prison?
Will people for example, one day in the future when the technology is completely immersive, decide to go on holiday for free in “second life” to a perfect three dimensional representation of a city or decide to pay and go through all the hassle involved with travelling to that same city in reality? Only time will tell...
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Impact from this new Technology
Waiting lists go down because of shorter operating times and fewer complications during surgery. Faster recovery rates due to the reduced blood loss and less post operative pain allow patients to leave sooner. All this will have a further knock on effect in that more people get appointments.
Society becomes more confident in the medical system. This results in a positive attitude in people when going for operations. More people who may otherwise not go for operations decide to do so because of this new found confidence. Mankind becomes healthier.
Through this technology hospitals will become extremely efficient…and with health care being fundamental to the success and development of us as a civilization the technology holds a future where everyone will benefit.
Society becomes more confident in the medical system. This results in a positive attitude in people when going for operations. More people who may otherwise not go for operations decide to do so because of this new found confidence. Mankind becomes healthier.
Through this technology hospitals will become extremely efficient…and with health care being fundamental to the success and development of us as a civilization the technology holds a future where everyone will benefit.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Contact Lens Display versus Present Displays
Present day augmented reality systems rely on swivel monitors to display the augmented view of the treatment area. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf) These displays have there problems as specialised displays can be very expensive and require tedious setup time. They also can lack mobility. Head mounted displays are sometimes used but are considered by most to be too bulky and deteriorate the wearers perception of there surroundings and reduce mobility due to wires. (http://www.gris.uni-tuebingen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Paper/Fischer-2004-Medical.pdf)
With the use of the contact lens display, problems regarding setup time and mobility are solved. The doctor need only insert the lenses and setup it complete. With the lenses in place he/she will be able to freely view areas without having to limit there view inside the confines of the swivel window used currently. They would also prove to be a more natural and accessible device for a physician when compared to the swivel display window. Once placed on the eye they will be completely unnoticeable. The physician can then fully concentrate on the procedure at hand.
With the use of the contact lens display, problems regarding setup time and mobility are solved. The doctor need only insert the lenses and setup it complete. With the lenses in place he/she will be able to freely view areas without having to limit there view inside the confines of the swivel window used currently. They would also prove to be a more natural and accessible device for a physician when compared to the swivel display window. Once placed on the eye they will be completely unnoticeable. The physician can then fully concentrate on the procedure at hand.
Contact Lens Display for AR in Medicine: Safety and Usability
Safety is of course paramount: a minor miscalculation could result in a patient’s death. Augmented reality relies upon an exact registration of virtual to real life, and misalignment cannot be allowed. It is also important that the surgeon retains tight control and can monitor, evaluate, and adjust factors throughout a procedure that depends on augmented reality.(http://student.bmj.com/issues/08/03/life/108.php)
The determination of the position, the visualisation, as well as the graphic interactive access of instruments, organs and regions should be as natural and transparent as possible. It is essential for its acceptance that the existing practice of physicians is as little changed as possible. The use of augmented reality particularly fits well to achieve this goal, as it overlays the real view on the patient with computer generated images and information. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Finally ergonomics and ease of use must be considered. All information displayed through the lens must relay information to the surgeon in a very intelligent way as to not impede vision or distract in any way. Failure to do so could compromise a patient’s safety.
The determination of the position, the visualisation, as well as the graphic interactive access of instruments, organs and regions should be as natural and transparent as possible. It is essential for its acceptance that the existing practice of physicians is as little changed as possible. The use of augmented reality particularly fits well to achieve this goal, as it overlays the real view on the patient with computer generated images and information. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Finally ergonomics and ease of use must be considered. All information displayed through the lens must relay information to the surgeon in a very intelligent way as to not impede vision or distract in any way. Failure to do so could compromise a patient’s safety.
Contact Lens Display for Augmented Reality(AR) in Medicine
With my project now focusing on the Medical domain I began to look into the areas where this technology would be very beneficial. The following are specific areas/applications in medicine for Augmented Reality.
Puncture, Biopsy
This is the introduction of Needles into the body to extract tissue samples. Currently these interventions are performed by the physicians with the use of previously assembled image data and there experiences in the field regarding anatomy. At present it is impossible to see if the needle injection harms healthy areas by the intervention.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Cancer Treatment, Brachytherapy
Medication is injected through a needle or a supply of radiation is introduced to tumor.
When a physician injects this radiation supply it must be as close to the tumor as possible in order to minimize damage to the surrounding cells which are healthy. This however is not always possible as the tumor is sometimes hidden from the view of the doctor.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Minimum invasive surgery
An instrument for inspection or intervention is introduced through a natural or induced body opening. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
This area has become increasingly recognized over the past fifteen years - As the avoidance of large incisions typically results in a reduced loss of blood, significantly less post-operative pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. However, the first problem encountered with minimal invasive surgery is it confronts the physician with a limited view to the region of intervention. The second problem is the lack of reference between the pre-operatively acquired medical image data (MRI, CT etc.) and the patient during the operation. This relationship between the treatment region and the pre-operatively acquired medical data is an unsupported process leaving a considerable extra workload for the surgeon. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf)
The above listed areas will all be revolutionized through augmented reality…as the pre-op image data will be directly registered in the exact position of the treatment area with all instruments used being tracked electromagnetically. This will be further complemented with helpful information regards the procedure displayed through the lens display for the physician to see.
Puncture, Biopsy
This is the introduction of Needles into the body to extract tissue samples. Currently these interventions are performed by the physicians with the use of previously assembled image data and there experiences in the field regarding anatomy. At present it is impossible to see if the needle injection harms healthy areas by the intervention.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Cancer Treatment, Brachytherapy
Medication is injected through a needle or a supply of radiation is introduced to tumor.
When a physician injects this radiation supply it must be as close to the tumor as possible in order to minimize damage to the surrounding cells which are healthy. This however is not always possible as the tumor is sometimes hidden from the view of the doctor.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
Minimum invasive surgery
An instrument for inspection or intervention is introduced through a natural or induced body opening. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)
This area has become increasingly recognized over the past fifteen years - As the avoidance of large incisions typically results in a reduced loss of blood, significantly less post-operative pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. However, the first problem encountered with minimal invasive surgery is it confronts the physician with a limited view to the region of intervention. The second problem is the lack of reference between the pre-operatively acquired medical image data (MRI, CT etc.) and the patient during the operation. This relationship between the treatment region and the pre-operatively acquired medical data is an unsupported process leaving a considerable extra workload for the surgeon. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf)
The above listed areas will all be revolutionized through augmented reality…as the pre-op image data will be directly registered in the exact position of the treatment area with all instruments used being tracked electromagnetically. This will be further complemented with helpful information regards the procedure displayed through the lens display for the physician to see.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Contact Lens Display: Focusing on One Area
During my conversation with Mìcheal this week we discussed the various areas (good and bad) I had researched regards this technologies impact on society. Through this discussion it became apparent that in order for me to carry this project forward and to produce a viable presentation in the allocated time. I would need to focus on one area which would use this Contact Lens Display. Having many areas would result in a project/presentation which was too broad.
Taking this on board I began to look at the various areas I had researched and analyze them on there merits. To begin with I compared Virtual Reality (immersive environments e.g. gaming) to Augmented Reality. In order to distinguish which technology would be the most practical as a future technology and also best suited for the Lens display.
Virtual Reality(VR) versus Augmented Reality(AR)
In Virtual Reality systems the external world is completely blocked out with the user being presented with an environment that is under complete control of the computer. The user is completely immersed in an artificial world and becomes divorced from there real environment. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html) They are at the mercy of the computer living in a kind of virtual prison with rules that cannot be broken.
In some cases the user might become addicted to this virtual world preferring to live in this environment. Could this be considered healthy living in a computer generated environment? Your real world identity lost instead replaced by this user desired virtual one.
In contrast, an Augmented Reality system is augmenting the real world scene necessitating that the user maintains a sense of presence in that world. This is a lot healthier, as you do not loose your sense of identity. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
Virtual Reality systems while being extremely expensive will also require a lot of supplementary technology to be fully functional, such as complete user interactivity and mobility. This looks from research to be a lot further into the future then augmented reality technology.
It is for these reasons I have decided to develop my concept with Augmented Reality in mind as it is more feasible for this futures brief.
Augmented Reality: Medicine
It became very apparent to me what area I should concentrate on once I decided not to go down the obvious road of immersive gamming (virtual reality). The Medical field is viewed by most as one of the more important for augmented reality systems because many applications throughout depend chiefly on image technology.
With the majority of surgery’s being image guided surgery pre-op images such as CT or MRI scans offer a surgeon a necessary internal view of a patient. The operation is then planned using these visuals. With the use of Augmented Reality these 3 dimensional scans could be directly superimposed on the anatomy of the patient while the operation is in progress when viewed through the lenses. Having these visuals superimposed onto the patient will enhance the performance of a surgical team and eliminate painful stereotatic frames currently being used. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
Below is a sketch detailing how this 3D MRI image might look seperimposed on a patient.
Another area which will use this technology will be ultra sound imaging. Using the display a doctor would view a 3 dimensional image of a fetus superimposed on the abdomen of a pregnant women. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
Taking this on board I began to look at the various areas I had researched and analyze them on there merits. To begin with I compared Virtual Reality (immersive environments e.g. gaming) to Augmented Reality. In order to distinguish which technology would be the most practical as a future technology and also best suited for the Lens display.
Virtual Reality(VR) versus Augmented Reality(AR)
In Virtual Reality systems the external world is completely blocked out with the user being presented with an environment that is under complete control of the computer. The user is completely immersed in an artificial world and becomes divorced from there real environment. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html) They are at the mercy of the computer living in a kind of virtual prison with rules that cannot be broken.
In some cases the user might become addicted to this virtual world preferring to live in this environment. Could this be considered healthy living in a computer generated environment? Your real world identity lost instead replaced by this user desired virtual one.
In contrast, an Augmented Reality system is augmenting the real world scene necessitating that the user maintains a sense of presence in that world. This is a lot healthier, as you do not loose your sense of identity. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
Virtual Reality systems while being extremely expensive will also require a lot of supplementary technology to be fully functional, such as complete user interactivity and mobility. This looks from research to be a lot further into the future then augmented reality technology.
It is for these reasons I have decided to develop my concept with Augmented Reality in mind as it is more feasible for this futures brief.
Augmented Reality: Medicine
It became very apparent to me what area I should concentrate on once I decided not to go down the obvious road of immersive gamming (virtual reality). The Medical field is viewed by most as one of the more important for augmented reality systems because many applications throughout depend chiefly on image technology.
With the majority of surgery’s being image guided surgery pre-op images such as CT or MRI scans offer a surgeon a necessary internal view of a patient. The operation is then planned using these visuals. With the use of Augmented Reality these 3 dimensional scans could be directly superimposed on the anatomy of the patient while the operation is in progress when viewed through the lenses. Having these visuals superimposed onto the patient will enhance the performance of a surgical team and eliminate painful stereotatic frames currently being used. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
Below is a sketch detailing how this 3D MRI image might look seperimposed on a patient.
Another area which will use this technology will be ultra sound imaging. Using the display a doctor would view a 3 dimensional image of a fetus superimposed on the abdomen of a pregnant women. (http://www.se.rit.edu/~jrv/research/ar/introduction.html)
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