Virtual Reality in Medicine (151-0279-00L)

Contents:	New principles and applications of multi-modal simulation and interface technologies in medical education, therapy, and rehabilitation
Lecturers:	PD Dr. habil. Matthias Harders, ETF C107, Tel: 632 52 79, Computer Vision Laboratory (ETH Zurich) Prof. Dr. Robert Riener, TAN E 4, Tel: 632 66 79, Sensory Motor Systems Laboratory (ETH and Uni Zurich)
Contact:	riener@mavt.ethz.ch matthias.harders@vision.ee.ethz.ch
Assistants:	Roland Sigrist, ML G 57, roland.sigrist@mavt.ethz.ch
Time & Place:	Winter semester (HS 11), 2h + 1h per week Lecture: Tuesday 10:00-12:00, room CHN D 48 Practical courses: Wednesday 11:00-12:00 (to be announced)
Target Groups:	Students of higher semesters and PhD students of D-ITET, D-INFK, D-MAVT Biomedical Engineering/ Movement Science and Sport Medical Faculty, University of Zurich Students of other departments, faculties, courses are also welcome!
Course begins:	September 20, 2011

Synopsis: Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to provide descriptive and practical information for medical training and therapy while relieving the patient and/or the physician and therapist. Multi-modal interactions between the user and the virtual environment facilitate the generation of high-fidelity sensory impressions, by using not only visual and auditory modalities, but also kinesthetic, tactile, and even olfactory feedback.

On the basis of the existing physiological constraints, this lecture will derive the technical requirements and principles of multi-modal input devices, displays, and redering techniques. Several examples are presented that are currently being developed or already applied for surgical training, intra-operative augmentation, and rehabilitation. The lecture will be accomplished by several practical courses on graphical and haptic display devices as well as excursions to facilities equipped with large-scale VR equipment.

Prerequisites: The course language is English. Basic experience in Information Technology and Computer Science will be of advantage.

Attestation conditions: Based on a practical semester project, written report, and presentation at the end of the semester.