There’s something inherently scary about a surgeon earning his wings with a Wii remote, but apparently it works. Kotaku recently dug up an interview that Austin Channel 8 News did with a gynecological surgeon named Mark Smith. In the interview, Smith explains how the Wii has helped residents become better surgeons with the cost-effective implementations of the Wii and its Wii remote peripheral.
One of the problems we’ve had over the years is we had no method to teach surgeons surgical skills without going into surgery. We now have simulators that help them develop those skills. The problem is they are incredibly expensive — like a flight simulator for a pilot. [The Wii] gives us a much less costly way to train these fine motor skills that the surgeons employ during surgery.
The residents in training put on special “cyber gloves” connected to the Wii and then act out the surgery on a funny VR screen. Regretfully, digital vaginas are not a part of the gynecological surgery simulation. Smith goes on to say that residents learn “very precise, exact movements that surgeons need to know and have the ability to do.” Smith cites a “50 percent improvement” in skill by just playing with their Wii, instead of watching another doctor play with a patient’s “Vii.”
All is fun in love and surgery, but what do you guys think about this golden videogame age where doctors get better by playing games? Personally, I’m all about it. I’ve always enjoyed Trauma Center, but I’m looking to get my hands on something like those guys have. I can’t wait until Brain Surgery or Arthroscopic come out this spring.
