British doctors live-stream world’s first virtual reality surgery in 360-degree video

By Steve Pak / 1460719140
(Photo : Facebook) Dr. Shafi Ahmed performed the world's first live-streamed 360-degree virtual reality surgery

A British doctor has just conducted the world's first live-streamed virtual reality (VR) surgery. VR fans could watch the operation broadcast on Medical Realities website, while those with a VR headset could download an app to watch the 360-degree video as Dr. Shafi Ahmed removed the cancerous tissues from the colon cancer patient's body.  

One major benefit of watching the 360-degree surgery room that simulated the one at the Royal London Hospital is that medical students did not have to buy an expensive flight to the United Kingdom. They just needed web access to watch the procedure that started on April 14, Thursday at 1 p.m. local time.   

In fact, anyone with a VR headset and compatible iOS or Android smartphone or tablet could watch the VR surgery. Medical Realities even included a 360-degree demo clip before the big event.   

The surgery's audio and video was captured by a Mativision system that includes a complex array of 6 cameras and stitches the video footage on the fly.

Ahmed is not just a full -time surgeon. He also co-founded the site Medical Realities that broadcast the cancer operation. In 2014 Ahmed also used the augmented reality (AR) device Google Glass to live-stream a different surgery, according to Tech Insider.

The 2014 surgery involved removing cancer cells from the liver and bowel of a 78-year-old British man, according to Ars Technica. He allowed 13,000 trainees and clinicians to view the procedure from the view of Ahmed's eyes.      

The latest live-streamed surgery also benefits people who do not plan to become surgeons but are training to have support roles.

In related news, Facebook has plans as the world's largest social network to make virtual reality a more social experience. On April 13, Wednesday, the company demoed something it calls "social VR" that connects at least two real people in the world of virtual reality.

Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer stood on stage in front of a live audience then used an Oculus Rift VR headset to "teleport" to London. He met another Facebook employee who was wearing a VR viewer at Facebook's headquarters. The two digital avatars visited tourist spots in London together and even took a selfie that they shared on a Facebook page. 

Here's Facebook's Social VR demo at F8: