Successful launch with MedTalk Virtual Reality
MedTalk Virtual Reality (VR) marked the successful launch in November of the new event series by the innovation and transfer partnership CoHMed (Connected Health in Medical Mountains). In close cooperation with MedicalMountains GmbH, the kick-off event at the Tuttlingen campus demonstrated impressively how VR can bring about lasting change in education and training in medical technology. Participants gained exciting insights into current research projects at Furtwangen University (HFU) and were able to try out immersive applications directly on site in the Laboratory for Engineering Psychology and Human Factors (IP-HF Laboratory).
The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Hadi Mozaffari Jovein, head and spokesperson of the CoHMed partnership. He emphasised the strategic importance of immersive learning technologies for medical technology and the role of CoHMed as an innovation driver that brings together expertise from universities, industry, and clinical applications.
The technical part of MedTalks VR was organised by four speakers who contributed various perspectives from research and application-oriented development. Prof. Dr. Stefan Pfeffer, Dean of Engineering Psychology and Human Factors, kicked off the event by introducing the fundamentals and design principles that support the successful use of virtual reality in medical technology. His remarks highlighted how crucial aspects of usability, perception and user interaction are for the development of effective VR training environments.
This was followed by a presentation by Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Enkler, an expert in virtualisation processes, product development and validation with and in immersive virtual environments. He emphasised the growing importance of immersive technologies for innovative learning and teaching formats at universities and placed MedTalk VR within the strategic development of HFU.
Marius Hugger, who is involved in the OpTA-VR project as an academic assistant, offered practical insights. He presented the structure, functions and didactic concept of the virtual surgical training environment and showed how realistic simulations can support learning processes in surgical assistance.
The lecture block was rounded off by Prof. Nikolaus Hottong, Vice-Dean for Research and Transfer and Professor of Media Technology. He illustrated the potential that combining technical innovation with media education and design approaches offers for medical technology.
More projects from the new HFU hub “Immersive Media in Research and Teaching” (IMeRT) were also presented. The hub networks expertise in media technology, computer science, psychology, medical technology and health sciences, pursuing the goal of systematically integrating immersive media into teaching. VR applications can already be used in a variety of ways today – from surgical simulation and medical product development, to realistic training formats.
The opportunity to test various VR applications for themselves was very well received. Participants immersed themselves in simple surgical scenarios, simulated workflows, and were able to experience first-hand the added value that immersive technologies offer for medical technology. This direct practical relevance led to intense exchange and technical discussion.
As an established partner of the regional medical technology industry, MedicalMountains GmbH supports the event series in bringing together specialists, companies and researchers, providing joint development impetus. The intensive dialogue among the participants showed how important such formats are for the region's innovative strength. Many guests took the opportunity to network, formulate needs and to develop new ideas for cooperation with Furtwangen University via CoHMed.
MedTalk VR highlighted the potential that immersive technologies offer for medical technology − and how strongly CoHMed is already acting as a catalyst for technological innovation. The new CoHMed event series creates a space for exchange, networking and the joint development of forward-looking solutions. The successful launch lays the foundation for further MedTalks, which will address key topics in medical technology and strengthen the transfer of knowledge between research, industry, and application.
Contact person for cooperation and development of project ideas: Internal link opens in the same window:Kathrin Eckerlin
