健康管理のための拡張現実技術 - Health care in the era of augmented and virtual reality #AR

健康管理や医療の分野でも活用が始まっているAR。それらに関する記事の紹介。

Augmented Reality (AR) is a much-discussed topic and technology set for major growth. But what does it really mean? AR completes our view of the real-world environments by adding fictional elements, which enhance what we see, hear, feel, and smell. Today, augmented reality is used in many industries, such as cars, environment, fashion, photography, video games and now also in the health sector.

Definition and distinction between virtual reality and augmented reality
Augmented Reality is a term for the integration of computer generated images and virtual objects into the user’s perception of the real world, all in real-time 3D. In short, AR adds objects that don’t necessarily exist to your computer or smartphone while you’re looking at it; hence it supplements the real world instead of replacing it. Augmented reality is different from virtual reality (VR): the latter is more complex as it creates a whole new world for the user to explore. Augmented reality is therefore closer to the “actual” reality than virtual reality.

Medical augmented reality applications and tools
AR and VR are particularly useful in medical training and in the treatment of diseases and injuries.

(via http://blog.withings.com/en/2011/09/20/health-care-in-the-era-of-augmented-and-virtual-reality/ )