The Era of Immersive Health Technology

Abstract

Immersive health technologies are revolutionising the delivery of frontline healthcare, therapeutic techniques, and research. They also offer great potential to improve the training of healthcare professionals through reality-simulation training. This review paper summarises the current developments and uses of four types of immersive health technology: augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Current examples of their use in healthcare, opportunities and pitfalls, and how the use of these technologies could be improved further in the future are highlighted. How technology that once appeared to be only visionary is now part of day-to-day life for many patients and consumers is also addressed.