Advanced 3D Computer-Assisted Technologies in Improving Patient Telecare.

Fast development of computer and information technology enables realization and application of new methods and systems that were not feasible in the past century. One example of such development is the area of virtual reality (VR), virtual surgery (VS), virtual endoscopy (VE), computer assisted surgery (CAS), 3D-CAS, robotic/telerobotic surgery, and Tele-3D-CAS. The real visual, auditory, and tactile cues are replaced by computer-generated sensory cues, therefore giving the user a sense of presence in a virtual world. CAS and VR have found many applications in the field of medicine. Advances in high performance computing, graphics, and networking, together with new human-machine interfaces form a technological basis for VR/3D-CAS/Tele-3D-CAS applications. Related fields and terminology such as augmented reality, full and partial immersion, wearable computers, telepresence, and telemedicine will be introduced in the paper. The aims of the paper are to present VR, 3D-CAS, and Tele-3D-CAS technology, to provide an overview of some mentioned research activities, information and research resources. An overview of the current research activities in the field of medicine of the 21st century includes: education, surgical planning and simulation, visualization, telemedicine/telesurgery, computer-aided surgery, human-machine interfaces, and rehabilitation and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]