Category: Featured News

Virtual reality technology used for live streaming cancer surgery

A surgeon in the United Kingdom, Shafi Ahmed, will be conducting the procedure to be viewed with a VR headset.

A cancer patient in the U.K. will be undergoing surgery on April 14 at 1p.m. local time, and the surgeon, Dr. Shafi Ahmed, will be using virtual reality technology linked to a mobile phone in order to be able to let others experience the live-stream of the entire procedure.

This will allow the surgery to be viewed by people around the world, as though seeing it from a massive operating theater.

The surgeon has been among those at the very head of pioneering virtual reality technology for the purposes of using it in surgery. He believes that the upcoming VR streamed surgery will be a game changer when it comes to medical education and health care innovation. The patient who will be undergoing the surgery currently has colon cancer. He is a man in his 70s and is not being identified by name, but he has said that he is quite excited about the thought that an international medical community will be viewing his procedure.

The operation will be viewable through the use of virtual reality technology headsets at Royal London hospital.

Virtual Reality Technology - Image of SurgeonThe operation will be filmed through the use of a number of different specialist cameras that will be positioned above the operating table. It is expected that the surgery will continue for two to three hours. The streaming of the surgery will run at a lag of about a minute behind the procedure itself, in case any unforeseen complications should occur.

The use of VR technology could be a very promising experience for trainee physicians who have traditionally needed to try to stand out of the way of the actual surgeons while essentially trying to see over their shoulders. In this case, they will be able to wear headsets and see exactly what is going on, as though they are right there in the operating room with the best possible viewing position. It will also be possible for them to change their viewing angle in order to get a better look at something they wish to see.

Dr. Ahmed discussed the virtual reality technology live streaming of the surgery and explained that β€œIt showcases virtual reality for what it should be used for – education.”

Mobile commerce is influencing consumer behavior

The rise of mobile shopping is changing the way consumers behave in the digital space

Consumer behavior is beginning to have a significant impact on digital commerce. Many consumers are becoming more mobile-centric, relying on their smartphones and tablets to research and purchase products that they are interested in. A recent report from Forrester Research shows that merchants may have to begin focusing more heavily on the mobile space as a result, as mobile commerce is becoming a very powerful force in the retail space, especially as more consumers become comfortable with the concept.

More consumers are beginning to use their devices in physical stores

According to the report from Forrester Research, 82% of consumers in the United States make purchasing decisions while in a physical store, with 56% of these consumers using their smartphones to check prices online. The report also shows that the capabilities of mobile devices are also changing consumer behavior. When in stores, more consumers are beginning to scan barcodes with their mobile devices in order to read reviews and compare prices. Consumers are also scanning codes to take advantage of special deals being offered by merchants.

Loyalty programs may help secure the growth of mobile shopping

Mobile Commerce Research Mobile commerce has become a very significant concept for the retail industry. One-third of all e-commerce transactions made throughout the world are now done via a mobile device. A recent report from Goldman Sachs predicts that mobile commerce will account for nearly half of all e-commerce transactions made worldwide by 2018. As this sector continues to grow, loyalty programs may become much more important to retailers than they already are. Approximately 46% of consumers are more willing to provide personal information if they can make use of a loyalty program of some sort.

Consumers are less likely to share personal information outside loyalty programs

While loyalty programs may provide merchants with more information about their customers, these people have limits when it comes to the information they want to provide. Outside of loyalty programs, consumers are less likely to share personal information. This is something that retailers will have to keep in mind once they begin focusing more heavily on the mobile commerce space in the future.