Mixed reality offers a glimpse of medical future

In 2017, the University of Dundee as part of a strategic partnership with world-leading medical technology company, Medtronic, launched a multidisciplinary, cross-school project to design and create innovative augmented reality apps for medical education and training.

Medtronic provided several Microsoft HoloLens devices and technical support. These devices are the first self-contained, holographic computers, which allows users to interact with holograms in the world around them.

While the University invited 50 students from 4 schools (Science and Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and DJCAD), over 8 disciplines (anatomy, animation, computing, dentistry, biomedical engineering, forensic anthropology, medical art and medicine) to take part.

The students completed a three-month project in which they designed and built new medical equipment and teaching tools through the Microsoft HoloLens. The groups had access to expert support from 13 academics across the university and several visits from experts provide information about their relevant medical devices.

Despite the limited time and no previous knowledge of the technology, the students produce some really exciting products, which were presented to staff, fellow students, and a contingent of business unit managers from Medtronic at the end of the semester.

Medtronic were extremely impressed with the work and progress that had been made in the short period of time.

Seven students from across the University have been offered studentships with the company after completing a three-month project.

Professor Tracey Wilkinson, joint programme lead with Nicolas Denervaud from Medtronic, said, “The aim of the project was to design and create innovative augmented reality apps for medical education and training, using the Hololens device as a training tool.