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This is part of an initiative by UZA in collaboration with the Belgian telecommunications group Telenet. Accordingly, images of patients' homes or schools can be projected through VR glasses via a 5G connection, helping young patients feel as if they are present in their beloved home or school.
The VR system includes a VR robot developed by the Dutch company Horus VR, equipped with a 360-degree camera, microphone, speakers, and internet connectivity, placed in a room the patient wishes to visit. The robot is then connected to VR glasses worn by the patient in the hospital, and by moving their head, the patient can look around the room where the robot is located, see what is happening there, and converse with those present.
Paul Van Aken, Director of Patient Care at UZA, believes that long hospital stays often place a psychological burden on patients and their families, especially in the past year when the pandemic raged in Europe. VR and 5G technology can alleviate this problem, while also creating a "realistic" connection between pediatric patients and their home or classroom environment.
Cédric Van Den Bogaerde, a 13-year-old patient who tested the VR system, said: “It’s great to feel at home for a while because everything in the hospital is usually the same. With the VR glasses, it’s like I’m at home.”
VR technology is said to significantly improve audio and video quality compared to regular smartphone video calls, especially when wearing VR glasses, allowing patients to feel like they've been transported home or to school in an instant. Previously, various trials with VR systems were conducted at UZA, and the project initiators assessed the trial results as very successful.
Currently, this is a pilot project, but the initiators hope that in the long term, similar applications can be deployed elsewhere. To fully exploit the potential of VR, high-speed 5G connectivity is needed, so wider deployment will depend on Belgium's 5G coverage.
"5G is 20-30 times faster than current 4G networks," said Piet Spiessens, Telenet's 5G Innovation Director. "Images can not only be transmitted faster but also maintain optimal quality. This project will become a prime example of how 5G can be increasingly used in the future."
