“Augmented reality […] hugely expands the variety of problems students can study”
— unknown
Definition
The digital school is a specific domain within digital reality, in which applications are used for educating, informing and training medical students, healthcare professionals, and patients and their families. The digital school is considered an important development in education and information services [1]. Digital reality includes technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). VR takes the user from the real world to a simulated world in which the user experiences a new reality. It is often possible for the user to interact with this new world. AR adds a digital ‘layer’ to the user’s surroundings; this may include graphs or other additional information. MR combines aspects of both VR and AR, and influences reality by adding interactive, digital content [2].
Application & benefits
Applications in the field of the digital school can result in higher-quality education and training of medical students and healthcare professionals [3]. Interactive applications help increase motivation and, according to the Self-Determination Theory, lead to better study results [4,5]. Healthcare professionals can be better trained in carrying out complex medical procedures, thus preventing complications and unnecessary costs. These applications help explain medical procedures better to patients and their families, and provide greater insight into patient perception, thus improving healthcare [6-10].
Market
The global market for digital reality is expected to reach 5.1 billion USD by 2025 compared with 568 million USD in 2016, with an annual growth of 29.1% [6]. The increasing number of applications in the field of the digital school is one of the factors driving the market, with AR applications expected to be the greatest driving force [6,11]. Over three-quarters of developers in the field of digital reality believe that AR and MR will represent a larger market share than VR in the future [12].
Driving forces
The driving forces behind the uptake of the digital school in healthcare are:
- The digitisation of society and therefore also education [4].
- Technology is becoming increasingly affordable, convenient and accessible for a larger public, leading to new applications [6].
- The increasing pressure to provide effective healthcare, together with the rise in costs, demands cost-effective solutions [13].
Increased awareness and growing acceptance
New technological capabilities
Increasing pressure on the healthcare system
Hindering forces
High costs (development, purchase, and maintenance)
Immaturity of the application
A call for evidence
The digital school is a highly promising technological development that will change education, training and information in the future. However, factors such as high purchase costs, technical limitations and the lack of effectiveness studies are currently preventing its widespread implementation [14-16].
Conclusion
Developments within the digital school are set to increase rapidly over the next few years. It will enable us to take a different view of the way in which medical students, healthcare professionals, and patients and their families are trained and informed.
References
- Newman D. Top 6 Digital Transformation Trends In Education. Juli 2017
- Van Hooijdonk R. Trends 2017-2018. 2017
- Reiter M. Mixed reality for Healthcare: Experiences from a Training Perspective. Augustus 2017
- Stevenson J. Impactful Applications of Augmented Reality and VR in Education and Government. September 2017
- selfdeterminationtheory.org – Page Array – An approach to human motivation & personality [Internet]. [cited 2017 Oct 30]. Available from: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/
- Grand View Research. Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Market Analysis By Component (Hardware, Software, and Service), By Technology (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 – 2025. Mei 2017
- Craig E. et al. VR and AR: Driving a Revolution in Medical Education & Patient Care. August 2017
- Rahm S. et al. Performance of medical students on a virtual reality simulator for knee athroscopy: an analysis of learning curves and predictors of performance. BMC Surg. 2016;16:14
- Zhu E. et al. Augmented reality in healthcare educa on: an integra ve review. Peer J. 2014;2:e469
- Ryall T. et al. Simula on-based assessments in health professional educa on: a systema c review. J Mul discip Healthc. 2016;9:69-82
- Kalorama Information. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Market in Healthcare (U.S. Markets for Surgery; Medical Education and Training; Pain Management, Rehabilitation and Therapy). Mei 2017
- VRDC. VR/AR Innovation Report. Juni 2017
- Stratistics MRC. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Healthcare – Global Market Outlook (2016-2022). Mei 2017
- Mesko B. Mixed Reality in Healthcare – The HoloLens Review. September 2017
- Barzom E.Z. et al. Systematic review on the effectiveness of augmented reality applications in medical training. Surgical Endoscopy. 2016; 30(10):4147-4183
- Moro C. et al. Systematic review on the effectiveness of augmented reality applications in medical training. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2017