title: Robots, multi-user virtual environments and healthcare: synergies for future directions.
abstract: The adoption of technology in healthcare over the last twenty years has steadily increased, particularly as it relates to medical robotics and Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) such as Second Life. Both disciplines have been shown to improve the quality of care and have evolved, for the most part, in isolation from each other. In this paper, we present four synergies between medical robotics and MUVEs that have the potential to decrease resource utilization and improve the quality of healthcare delivery. We conclude with some foreseeable barriers and future research directions for researchers in these fields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada. ajung@amoon.ca
authors.forename: Ajung
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Grajales
authors.forename: H F Machiel
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Van der Loos
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D012371:Robotics; D014584:User-Computer Interface