All of us at IntoMobile like augmented reality apps. The ability to get actionable information right on the spot is priceless and in that sense, we believe this market will keep growing in the years to come.
However, augmented reality isn’t all about marketing and guiding users through cities all around the world. Just recently we saw that Metaio-made app that serves as owner’s manual for Audi A3, and now we have another example of this technology being used in real life. Actually, that’s real life of a doctor, who used a specific app on his iPad to perform a liver surgery.
Developed by Fraunhofer MEVIS in Bremen, the application helps locate structures like tumors and blood vessels, and is expected to improve the outcomes in such complicated procedures.
According to Prof. Karl Oldhafer, this technology will help surgeons planning for tumor removal. “The method has great potential. One can imagine it being used in the operation of other organs such as the pancreas,” he said.
The liver is filmed using the iPad camera, and then overlaid during an operation with virtual 3D models that were rendered from data in a real organ. The photos of this app “in action” are here; just make sure to NOT load that page during dinner… Don’t say we haven’t warned you afterwards. 😉
[Via: TUAW]