HapticMed, Interfete cu retur haptic in aplicatii medicale—Primul prototip de palpare virtuala din Romania in functiune in Constanta

This article was published in ComputerWorld Romania

HapticMed - Interfete cu Retur Haptic in Aplicatii Medicale—HapticMed System Validation

This article was published in ComputerWorld Romania

Haptic Feedback Systems in Education

Haptics is the science of merging tactile sensation with computer applications, thereby enabling users to receive feedback they can feel (in addition to auditory and visual cues). Multimodal environments where visual, auditory and haptic stimuli are present convey information more efficiently since the user manipulates and experiences the environment through multiple sensory channels. The availability of haptic systems enables the augmentation of traditional instruction with interactive interfaces offering enhanced motivation and intellectual stimulation. Although the haptic devices have not made large in roads into education, we believe that the potential for revolutionary change now exists due to the recent availability of both the hardware and software components. This paper brings into discussion some of the most relevant technological issues involving haptic systems in education. One of these issues is choosing the suitable haptic hardware, API or framework for developing a visuo-haptic e-Learning system. The decision is based on several criteria such as multimodal resources needed by the software system, compatibility with haptic devices, dynamic configuration of the scene, and so on. Another issue is related to the software system reactivity at the user actions. The immediate haptic feedback from virtual models, together with the synchronisation of haptic and visual cues generated by computer to its users are essential for enhancing the user\u27s learning path. Providing realistic visuo-haptic models as much as it is possible is also another problem that the development of the haptic e-learning system should deal with. Such models help to obtain accurate training scenarios developed for the teaching, for example, of medical protocols, or chemical or physical processes

Haptic Feedback Systems in Medical Education

This paper brings into discussion some of the most relevant technological challenges involving haptic systems in medical education. One of these challenges is choosing the suitable haptic hardware, API or framework for developing a visuo-haptic eLearning system. The decision is based on several criteria such as the multimodal resources needed by the software system, compatibility with haptic devices and the dynamic configuration of the scene. Another challenge is related to the software system reactivity in conjunction with the user’s actions. The immediate haptic feedback from the virtual models, together with the synchronization of the rendered haptic and visual cues seen by the users are essential for enhancing the user’s learning ability. Visuo-haptic simulation facilitates accurate training scenarios of medical protocols and surgical processes

Medical Simulation and Training: Haptic Liver

Tactile perception plays an important role in medical simulation and training, specifically in surgery. The surgeon must feel organic tissue hardness, evaluate anatomical structures, measure tissue properties, and apply appropriate force control actions for safe tissue manipulation. Development of novel cost effective haptic-based simulators and their introduction in the minimally invasive surgery learning cycle can absorb the learning curve for residents. Receiving pre-training in a core set of surgical skills can reduce skill acquisition time and risks. We present the development of a cost-effective visuo-haptic simulator for the liver tissue, designed to improve practice-based education in minimally invasive surgery. Such systems can positively affect the next generations of learners by enhancing their knowledge in connection with real-life situations while they train in mandatory safe conditions

Learning Distributed Activities Inside 3D Virtual Spaces

We discuss the effects of using distributed virtual reality environments in the educational process. Pedagogical, technical and implementation aspects are explored in conjunction with a virtual environment used in the engineering training curricula