So you thought 3D TV was only for watching football? New research from the University of Melbourne has used 3D technology to broadcast virtual reality surgical operations via 3DTV.
The technology will enable future surgeons to experience their teachers’ surgical expertise first-hand from the classroom or their own homes through 3D televisions.
Professor Steven O’Leary from the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne said the new technology would improve surgical training for students.
“The University has shown that early surgical training is improved by the addition of virtual reality to the training program; it is becoming clear that 3D TV is a way of getting the message across to young surgeons around the county,” he said.
The technology will be trialled today as part of the University of Melbourne’s Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) proof of concept demonstration of a new broadcast platform.
The platform – developed in partnership with Ericsson and using their existing commercial-grade Internet Protocol (IPTV) system that provides a premium television service over a managed network – could enable the University to deliver educational content such as 3D learning applications and lectures into the home.
To demonstrate how such educational services can be delivered over a high-speed broadband network IBES researchers, supported by Ericsson, have developed a prototype of “Uni TV”.
IBES researcher, Associate Professor Gregor Kennedy said high-speed broadband opens up significant opportunities for the development of new educational applications.
“We see the use of immersive 3D environments as a leading edge approach to surgical education in the 21st Century regardless of their location,”he said.
Broadband Strategy Manager for Ericsson Colin Goodwin, said that by giving people the live experience of using Uni TV people will suddenly understand how the NBN will help deliver academic and continuing education across Australia.
See the full story here: http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/development/43913-new-3d-tech-leaps-into-the-classroom