As a result, most surgeons report experiencing discomfort while performing minimal-access surgery, a 2022 study found. About one-fifth of surgeons polled said they would consider retiring early because their pain was so frequent and uncomfortable. A good mixed-reality headset, then, might allow a surgeon to look at a patient’s surgical area and, without looking up, virtual screens that show them the laparoscopy camera and a patient’s vitals.
Airbus in Toulouse has one section of a production line where work instructions, tool tips, and prints are available to the mechanics on VR headset. There are surely other industries that are further along, but in aerospace, that Airbus line is goals. I’ve seen it in an open house / show off situation. I am still skeptical how mechanics use VR headsets for 8+ hour shifts day after day.
I’m sure they’re not as intense as video game VRs, those start giving me headache and nausea after about 45 minutes. 8+ hours seems like it would be a lot. And at 8+ hours, it’s not even just the vision/nausea, I have to assume it becomes a question about ergonomics of neck and shoulders supporting the extra weight.
I’ve played with a few VR headsets and there’s absolutely none of them that I have found that I would enjoy wearing for eight hours a day. They’re all far too heavy.
The new AR prototype glasses from Meta could be useful in that case. Since they’re not heavy and still allow you to see reality. They aren’t a consumer product because of the price, but maybe a surgeon wouldn’t care about the expense as much?