New Ayurveda centre for alternative treatment opens in Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island – Gulf News

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Dr. Shyam Vishwanathan explaining about the traditional curative therapies offered at Vaidyashala to Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu after the inauguration. Image Credit: Supplied

Abu Dhabi: A registered Ayurveda clinic that will provide alternative and complementary treatment for chronic conditions has opened its doors at the Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Abu Dhabis Al Reem Island.

Staffed by a ten-member team, including registered Ayurvedic doctors, Vaidhyashala aims to integrate conventional medicine with Ayurvedic sciences that originated in India. The centre was officially inaugurated this week by Kumar Bayyapu, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Shyam Vishwanathan, head of Vaidhyashala, said the Ayurvedic treatments offered will supplement treatment through traditional medicine for complaints like back pain, arthritis, autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, allergies and gynaecological concerns.

We expect that 50 per cent of our patients will come to us with neuromuscular complaints and another big group of patients will present themselves with allergic conditions such as asthma. Ayurveda, which has been recognised as a curative treatment in the UAE since 2002, is effective at treating a number of such concerns and we are happy to partner with a registered clinic, he said.

In fact, awareness about the benefits of Ayurveda is on the rise and we expect to open five more centres affiliated with medical networks in the UAE over the next year, Dr Vishwanathan added. Fitted with six therapy rooms and a number of consultation chambers, patients will be able to opt for treatment packages with multiple sessions, following consultations with the centres doctors.

Immunity enhancement

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for immunity enhancement. Ayurveda [complements] the positive role of traditional medicines and practises in enhancing immunity. India can play a major role in meeting the requirements of world markets through the promotion of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of treatment, Bayappu said following a tour of the facility.

No single system of medicine has a complete set of answer [for the health concerns that plague mankind today]. Integrated medicines, which combine traditional medication with alternative treatments like Ayurveda, are the way forward, especially for the treatment of the growing number of chronic illnesses, he said.

The Ayurveda clinic at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre will offer abhyangam (traditional Ayurvedic body massage), thala pothichil (head massage), tharpanam (treatment for the eyes), ayurvedic facial and other packages. It will also provide programmes for weight loss, post-natal care, detox therapies and lifestyle modification.

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New Ayurveda centre for alternative treatment opens in Abu Dhabi's Al Reem Island - Gulf News

Does Medicare cover massage therapy? Information and costs – Medical News Today

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Original Medicare does not cover massage therapy, but an increasing number of Medicare Advantage plans known as Part C offer coverage, depending on certain conditions.

A person enrolled in an Advantage plan that includes massage therapy will get treatment coverage under certain conditions. To qualify, a doctor must order the massage therapy to treat a specific health condition, while a state-licensed therapist must administer the treatment.

This article explores the technique of massage therapy. Next, it provides an overview of Medicare, examining what parts of the program cover the treatment. Then, it looks at other therapies Medicare covers, as well as the associated costs. Lastly, it describes programs that may help with alternative therapy costs.

Massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. It aims to help manage certain health conditions or foster wellness. The technique is an alternative treatment used by various cultures for centuries.

Therapists use many different massage techniques, with Swedish or classical massage being the most common in Western countries, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

There are few scientific studies investigating the possible benefits of massage therapy. However, the NCCIH note that preliminary research suggests the treatment may promote:

The NCCIH also state that massage therapy has few risks, noting that there are rare reports of serious side effects, such as bone fractures or nerve injuries.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 years and older, along with younger individuals with certain disabilities.

There are four parts to the program:

Original Medicare comprises Part A, which covers hospitalization insurance, and Part B, which deals with medical insurance. Part A includes coverage for hospital and nursing home stays, hospice, and some home healthcare, while Part B includes outpatient care, such as doctor visits, lab tests, and medical equipment.

Learn more about original Medicare here.

Medicare Advantage, or Part C, is the alternative to original Medicare and provides the same coverage as Parts A and B, with additional benefits. Most Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage with other additions, such as dental, vision, and hearing care.

Learn more about Medicare Advantage plans here.

Part D is prescription drug coverage available with original Medicare. Each plan supplies a list of covered drugs and generally provides at least two medications in each commonly prescribed class.

Learn more about Part D here.

Private insurance companies offer Medicare supplemental insurance, which pays 50100% of Parts A and B out-of-pocket costs, such as coinsurance, copays, and deductibles.

If a person has Medicare Advantage, they cannot also have a Medigap plan.

Learn more about Medigap here.

Coverage for massage therapy differs between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, as detailed below.

Original Medicare does not cover massage therapy, so a person must pay 100% of treatment costs. Because massage therapy falls under the category of alternative medicine, Medicare does not consider it medically necessary.

Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover alternative medicine treatments, including massage therapy, if they are considered primarily health-related, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

To qualify, the massage treatment must meet these two conditions:

Costs for massage therapy sessions for Advantage plan enrollees may involve copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. These costs vary among the different plans.

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage cover therapies other than massage, although Advantage plans provide broader coverage of alternative treatments. Below is a description of the differences between the two programs regarding therapy treatment and coverage.

Original Medicare covers physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In addition, under certain circumstances, it covers acupuncture and chiropractic treatment, both of which are alternative treatments.

Medicare Part B covers acupuncture for chronic low back pain only. To receive this diagnosis, a person must meet the following requirements:

A person with chronic low back pain may obtain coverage of up to 12 acupuncture visits within 90 days. If a person shows improvement with this treatment, Medicare covers an additional eight appointments, for a maximum of 20 treatments per year.

Medicare Part B covers chiropractic care to help a person manage active back pain, as opposed to coverage for preventive or maintenance treatment. This means Medicare will only fund chiropractic care to correct an existing problem.

A person who has this treatment pays 20% of the cost after meeting the Part B deductible of $203.

Advantage plans offer all the benefits of original Medicare, providing coverage of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The program also includes acupuncture and chiropractic services as described above.

However, Advantage plans with acupuncture or chiropractic benefits offer more extensive coverage than original Medicare. The costs vary among plans.

People with a low income and limited resources may get help with alternative therapy costs from the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Extra Help, or Medicaid.

The QMB program is one of four state-run programs designed to help a person with limited income meet their Medicare costs. People who enroll with QMB are also enrolled with Medicaid.

The QMB program pays for:

The QMB program also helps with prescription costs by limiting how much a drugstore can charge for a prescription. In 2021, the limit is $3.90 for a prescription medication covered under Medicare Part D.

A person who qualifies for enrollment in the QMB program has automatic enrollment in Extra Help, which also covers some costs of a Medicare Part D plan. However, it does not help with therapy treatment costs.

Medicaid helps pay many out-of-pocket healthcare costs for either original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Since it can work with Medicare Advantage, it may help pay a plans massage therapy costs, in addition to other alternative treatment costs.

However, not all providers accept Medicaid. In these cases, a person can check with a federally qualified health center to enquire about further help with costs.

Learn more about Medicaid here.

Massage therapy is an alternative treatment that may offer health benefits. Studies suggest it may reduce certain types of pain, relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, and lower anxiety in people with AIDS.

Some Advantage plans offer massage therapy as a plan benefit, although out-of-pocket costs, such as copays or coinsurance, vary among plans. A person who needs help in paying the costs may qualify for Medicaid.

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Alternative Medicine Market Value Chain Analysis and Forecast | Deepure Plus, Pure encapsulations, Herb Pharma and Others – Cheshire Media

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Global Alternative Medicine market report offers a precise outline of the market that includes many aspects of market product definition, market segmentation, analysis, key developments, and existing vendors state of the business. These Alternative Medicine industry documents include key players and geographical markets that have adopted vital methodologies for business developments and growth. The consumer trust in precise and proper Alternative Medicine information structures that is employed for analysis of the business Report 2020 has the aim to deliver a complete analysis of the Alternative Medicine market. The report could assist you in coming up with worthy growth methods and additionally aware and indurate challenges.

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Global Alternative Medicine Market: Competitive Landscape

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Segment by Type, the Alternative Medicine market is segmented into

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This report also splits the market by leading region:

Key Questions Answered in The Report:

Market Report includes major TOC points1 Study Coverage1.1 Alternative Medicine Product Introduction1.2 Market Segments1.3 Key Alternative Medicine Manufacturers Covered: Ranking by Revenue1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Measuring Smart Plug1.4.3 Regular Smart Plug1.4.4 Remote Control Smart Plug1.4.5 Other1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Home1.5.3 Commercial1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered

2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size, Estimates and Forecasts2.1.1 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue 2016-20262.1.2 Global Alternative Medicine Sales 2016-20262.2 Global Alternative Medicine, Market Size by Producing Regions: 2016 VS 2020 VS 20262.3 Alternative Medicine Historical Market Size by Region (2016-2020)2.3.1 Global Alternative Medicine Retrospective Market Scenario in Sales by Region: 2016-20202.3.2 Global Alternative Medicine Retrospective Market Scenario in Revenue by Region: 2016-20202.4 Alternative Medicine Market Estimates and Projections by Region (2021-2026)2.4.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales Forecast by Region (2021-2026)2.4.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue Forecast by Region (2021-2026)

3 Global Alternative Medicine Competitor Landscape by Players3.1 Global Top Alternative Medicine Sales by Manufacturers3.1.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales by Manufacturers (2016-2020)3.1.2 Global Alternative Medicine Sales Market Share by Manufacturers (2016-2020)3.2 Global Alternative Medicine Manufacturers by Revenue3.2.1 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue by Manufacturers (2016-2020)3.2.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2016-2020)3.2.3 Global Alternative Medicine Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI) (2016-2020)3.2.4 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Companies by Alternative Medicine Revenue in 20193.2.5 Global Alternative Medicine Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3)3.3 Global Alternative Medicine Price by Manufacturers3.4 Global Alternative Medicine Manufacturing Base Distribution, Product Types3.4.1 Alternative Medicine Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters3.4.2 Manufacturers Alternative Medicine Product Type3.4.3 Date of International Manufacturers Enter into Alternative Medicine Market3.5 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans

4 Market Size by Type (2016-2026)4.1 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size by Type (2016-2020)4.1.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales by Type (2016-2020)4.1.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue by Type (2016-2020)4.1.3 Alternative Medicine Average Selling Price (ASP) by Type (2016-2026)4.2 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size Forecast by Type (2021-2026)4.2.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales Forecast by Type (2021-2026)4.2.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue Forecast by Type (2021-2026)4.2.3 Alternative Medicine Average Selling Price (ASP) Forecast by Type (2021-2026)4.3 Global Alternative Medicine Market Share by Price Tier (2016-2020): Low-End, Mid-Range, and High-End

5 Market Size by Application (2016-2026)5.1 Global Alternative Medicine Market Size by Application (2016-2020)5.1.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales by Application (2016-2020)5.1.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue by Application (2016-2020)5.1.3 Alternative Medicine Price by Application (2016-2020)5.2 Alternative Medicine Market Size Forecast by Application (2021-2026)5.2.1 Global Alternative Medicine Sales Forecast by Application (2021-2026)5.2.2 Global Alternative Medicine Revenue Forecast by Application (2021-2026)5.2.3 Global Alternative Medicine Price Forecast by Application (2021-2026)

..Continued

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Name: Mark RiveraTel: +1-408-520-9037Email: [emailprotected]

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Alternative Medicine Market Value Chain Analysis and Forecast | Deepure Plus, Pure encapsulations, Herb Pharma and Others - Cheshire Media

Know the limitations of health insurance for Ayush treatment – Mint

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It told all insurers to mandatorily offer, from 1 April 2020, Arogya Sanjeevani, a standard health insurance product that will cover Ayush treatments up to the sum insured. Some health insurance policies covered Ayush treatments earlier too, but with a sub-limit on the sum insured. Irdai first asked insurers to provide alternative treatment coverage in 2013, but the uptake of these treatments has picked up in recent years. In the last three years, we have seen a huge increase in the demand for alternative treatments and medicines," said Adarsh Agarwal, appointed actuary at Digit General Insurance Ltd.

Also read: The pandemic push to the silver economy

The Ayush system is based on natural ingredients, but it can also include drug therapies to cure specific diseases. We tell you how Ayush benefits work under a health insurance policy, the key inclusions and exclusions, and what to keep in mind when taking a cover for Ayush treatments.

What do you get?

Arogya Sanjeevani as well as some other health insurance policies cover Ayush treatment. If your policy has in-patient benefits for Ayush, then any treatment, which is an alternate procedure, is also covered under that plan. So, if you get admitted to, lets say, an ayurveda hospital that may also be covered in the exact same way that normal treatments are covered," said Amit Chhabra, business head, health, Policybazaar.com, an online marketplace for insurance.

Coverage: Arogya Sanjeevani covers Ayush treatments up to the sum insured, which has to be a minimum of 50,000; theres no upper limit.

This is the first step towards recognition of Ayush treatment. In Arogya Sanjeevani, the product features are uniform across the industry and the companies are mandated that they should cover Ayush," said Dr S. Prakash, managing director, Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd. Further, pre-hospitalization (30 days prior to admission) and post-hospitalization expenses (60 days from discharge) are also included in this plan.

Other health insurance policies usually cover Ayush treatment up to a maximum limit of 50,000. Different policies have different limits. Some policies cover it till the sum insured. In some cases, there are caps on coverage. For example, Ayush coverage may be around 10% of the sum insured," said Chhabra.

Cost: Overall, such treatments for certain ailments are said to be a lot more cost-effective than modern medicine. There are some neurological, psychosomatic and chronic dermatological diseases where Ayush has been able to address issues at a lesser cost, particularity in semi-urban and rural areas," said Prakash, who has a masters in surgery.

Where can you get it? According to recent guidelines, Irdai classifies Ayush hospital as a healthcare facility wherein medical or surgical treatment procedures are carried out by Ayush medical practitioners having at least five in-patient beds and a qualified medical practitioner in charge. Citing National Health Portal data, Agarwal said that there are around 98 Ayush hospitals till July 2020 that have been set up in the country.

Further, hospitals in Ayush sectors do not necessarily need the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH) certification to be able to tie up with health insurers.

The limitations

The Ayush benefits come with certain limitations currently, both for the insurers as well as the policyholders.

For insurers: Distinguishing the right practitioner is a challenge insurers are facing. Ayush has its benefits, gives a remedy for some of the medical challenges in allopathy, but the biggest limitation is how to distinguish the right Ayush practitioner," Prakash said.

The fear of misuse and abuse in terms of alternative treatments has also driven insurers to offer Ayush cover with some limited benefits. We respect the system and acknowledge the benefits in select areas out of Ayush, but the biggest challenge is to identify the right connect and the right place where an evidence-based treatment is given," he said.

Lack of clarity and quality control is another issue for insurers. Ayush treatment is acceptable in certain cases, but overall there is a big question mark on the studies to determine the efficacy and the quality control of its medicines. Unless these issues are addressed, there is a big risk of having such treatments covered under insurance. People will tend to misuse it, as there are no indicators that can be monitored and there is lack of a standard line of treatment," said Dr Bharat Gadhavi, president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA).

For policyholders: Alternative treatments such as homeopathy, unani or ayurveda in most scenarios are out-patient, and health insurance mostly covers in-patient treatment. This means that consultation or evaluation expenses for Ayush treatment may not get covered. To claim for the expenses, one needs to be hospitalized for at least for 24 hours. Also, any preventive and rejuvenation treatments that are not medically necessary wont be covered under Ayush benefits," said Agarwal.

Further, treatment at a health care facility that is not approved and not a hospital is excluded, so choose the practitioner carefully.

While general health insurance offering Ayush benefits caps the claim amount, the Arogya Sanjeevani has a 5% co-pay (fixed out-of-pocket amount paid by the insured) and 2% sub-limit on room rent (the insurer will pay only up to 2% of the sum insured as room rent). The cost of other procedures are usually calculated based on the room rent.

To get the Ayush benefit, you might have to pay extra premium in case of a general health insurance plan.

Further, only a few insurance companies offer cashless treatment, and the majority of the claims are reimbursed later on the basis of bills.

Consider all aspect before opting for this plan.

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Know the limitations of health insurance for Ayush treatment - Mint

Israel set to approve NIS 500 fine for those visiting other people’s homes on Hanukkah – Ynetnews

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Israeli government on Thursday is expected to approve a partial nighttime lockdown for the duration of holiday of Hanukkah, including a fine of NIS 500 for those visiting other people's homes during the festival.

The government failed to reach an agreement during a meeting on Wednesday reconvened in the morning hours to approve tightening of coronavirus restrictions across Jewish municipalities on Hanukkah, and across Christian localities for the holiday of Christmas.

Police officers enforce lockdown in Bnei Brak

(Photo: AFP)

According to the outline tabled for the ministers all movement between cities as well as almost all trade will halt operations from 5:30pm. While some restrictions on movement are set to take effect on Thursday evening, curbs on trade and congregation are scheduled to take effect starting Friday to give businesses time to prepare.

Finance Minister Israel Katz, however, at the start of the meeting demanded for the hour to be moved to 6:30pm or 7pm. "The proposals would cause severe damage to tens of thousands of business owners in the trade sector who have just returned to full activity and to hundreds of thousands of people who will return to the cycle of unemployment," said Katz at the meeting.

Finance Minister Israel Katz tours a market in Jerusalem

(Photo: Rafi Kotz)

Business designated as "essential" will be allowed to operate as usual and so will restaurants and cafes providing takeaway services only.

Israelis will also not be allowed to visit other people's homes during the holiday, with celebrations limited to nuclear family members. Those violating the order by visiting other people's homes will be fines NIS 500.

The exceptions to that rule include instances of provision of essential products or services, medical care, essential social care or alternative medicine, assisting a person in distress, handing over a child between two parents who do not live together or to a carer, providing care for an animal.

Police officers enforce lockdown in Bnei Brak

(Photo: AFP)

People will be allowed to congregate outside with up to 10 people. Congregation in confined spaces will be banned, once again with the exception of the nuclear family, from 5:30pm.

Synagogues, however, are exempt from the rule with up to 10 people allowed inside confined places of worship and up to 20 in open areas.

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Israel set to approve NIS 500 fine for those visiting other people's homes on Hanukkah - Ynetnews

Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores mourns loss of sand tiger shark Jolene – The Coastland Times – The Coastland Times

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The veterinary team at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize a sand tiger shark December 8. The decision came after two years of treatment and monitoring, according to a release from the aquarium.

This was not a decision we made easily. You could see it on the faces of each person and hear the enormity of the situation in the questions and statements each person made when we gathered to discuss her situation, said Liz Baird, director of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. At the end of the day, it was important for us to look at her overall health and quality of life.

Animal care staff had been caring for Jolene, as she is affectionately called by staff, since 2010 when the now roughly 12-year-old shark came to the aquarium after she was collected from pound nets in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Caring for more than 4,000 animals is an enormous responsibility, stated the press release. Caring for sick animals can be even more challenging. Make that animal a 400-pound female sand tiger shark, and it becomes an even more intricate and difficult task.

About two years ago we started noticing bumps and lesions on Jolenes flanks, said Emily Christiansen, North Carolina Aquariums Division veterinarian. We decided we needed to get a closer look at what was going on.

In December 2018, the team used an Aquarium Vet Shark Bag, a device used to bring large aquatic animals into the acclimation pool of the Living Shipwreck. This device is made of a see-through material which is barely visible to the shark. When the animal is safely inside the bag, divers then swim the device to the surface where the shark is treated by the animal care team inside an acclimation pool attached to the larger habitat.

Historically, staff members would use safety sticks to try to convince sharks to swim into the pool. This was extremely slow and often times not effective, according to the aquarium. The new method was faster, safer and proved to be less stressful on the large shark.

Our first time in with the shark bag was interesting, and we missed getting Jolene to swim into the bag. We had to go back to the acclimation pool to create a better plan, said Clint Taylor, North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores husbandry curator. The second and subsequent attempts proved to be much more successful, and we were able to safely get Jolene in for an exam.

While in the smaller acclimation pool, Jolene is rolled upside down. This is known as tonic immobility and puts the shark into a sleep-like state, stated the aquarium.

There she was provided oxygen by continuously delivering moving water over her gills, stated the release. She was also closely monitored by several staff while the veterinarian team worked diligently to collect samples, administer medication and conduct an ultrasound exam of her internal organs.

We were hopeful to find some clue as to what was causing the dermatitis on her skin, but really found nothing conclusive, said Christiansen. We started her on antibiotics, additional vitamins and steroids to treat the symptoms.

This method seemed to work for a while. However, each time the team began stepping down the amount of medicine Jolene was receiving, the sharks rash came back, leaving the team looking at different options to better care for the shark.

We have been adjusting her medications over the past two years and looked at a variety of scientific research to identify alternative treatment options for Jolene. Unfortunately, many of the tools we have for identifying disease in other animals arent very well defined for sick sharks, said Christiansen.

The aquarium stated that while dermatitis might not sound like something serious, in sharks it is often an indicator of underlying health issues affecting other body systems.

The sharks are conditioned to eat at specific locations inside the Living Shipwreck habitat and are individually fed using a long pole known as a shark fork, allowing staff to monitor food intake and ensuring each animal is getting proper nutrition.

Although she seemed to be responding, in the last few weeks Jolene has refused to eat more often than not, stated the aquarium. The aquarist charged with feeding Jolene had been trying throughout each day.

I have provided numerous opportunities for her to feed as well as provided a variety of fish for her daily, said Jeff Mcbane, an aquarist at Pine Knoll Shores. Eating is extremely important to the overall health and welfare of an animal.

Even with opportunistic feeding, Jolenes health continued to decline. After an extensive meeting with the husbandry care staff, veterinary team and aquarium leadership, the difficult decision was made to euthanize, stated the release.

Jolene is now at N.C. States Center for Marine Sciences and Technology where she will undergo a necropsy by the NC Aquariums veterinary team to hopefully provide more answers on her condition that will help animal care teams across the country better care for their large sharks.

The results from these tests could take weeks or even months.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd. in Pine Knoll Shores. The aquarium is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visitwww.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shoresor call 252-247-4003.

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Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores mourns loss of sand tiger shark Jolene - The Coastland Times - The Coastland Times

The plastic pandemic: could the environmental impact of the NHS response to covid-19 be reduced? – The BMJ – The BMJ

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The NHS disposes of around 133,000 tonnes of plastic each year, but only about 5% of it is recovered. The recently published Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service document reports that the NHS is responsible for 4% of Englands total carbon footprint. The NHS Long Term Plan recognises the health services huge carbon footprintabout 60% of which is from the procurement of goods and services. Although there have been improvements, there is a long way to go and time is running out.

As covid-19 spread, so did panic. Guidelines were implemented quickly. Measures such as hand hygiene, face coverings, and social distancing were promoted to protect individuals and the public. To maintain public trust, every organisation had to be seen to be doing something that makes people feel safer. Was there enough evidence to back these policies?

Many safety measures came with a pricedisposable plastic. It seems to have come to the rescue. But while feeling safe is important, any measure must improve safety, not just create an illusion of it, particularly if that measure causes long-lasting harm to the environment.

Understandably, some targets set in the NHS Long Term Plan may be put on hold while the pandemic is dealt with. But the pandemic should not eclipse the climate emergency.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), has been a hot topic since the beginning of the covid-19 crisis, and policies regarding PPE have been updated multiple times. In the updated Infection Prevention and Control guidance, published by Public Health England, patients are categorised into low, medium, and high risk groups. The majority of attendees at outpatient services are medium risk where an asymptomatic individual with unknown covid-19 status is accessing care. The PPE advice includes single-use plastic aprons, single-use gloves, plus surgical face masks and visors/goggles.

A single clinic, with about 50 patients daily, disposes of approximately 500 plastic aprons and 1000 gloves every week. Multiplied by the number of outpatient clinics running in all trusts, the waste produced becomes immense.

Two questions need answers. Does wearing gloves and an apron when treating an asymptomatic patient offer any meaningful protection? And is there a more pragmatic alternative which reduces the amount of plastic waste without endangering healthcare workers?

The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM), which provides the evidence published in the infection prevention and control guidance, refers to literature reviews on single-use aprons and gowns and single-use gloves. But these documents provide no evidence for using aprons and gloves to prevent transmission of an airborne infection from an asymptomatic individual wearing a face covering.

The NICE guidance states wear (aprons) if there is a risk that clothing may be exposed to blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions. A WHO scientific brief (June 2020), states despite consistent evidence as to SARS-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces and the survival of the virus on certain surfaces, there are no specific reports which have directly demonstrated fomite transmission. And although the WHO report emphasises the role of asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission of covid-19, it states that according to a few studies, 0% to 2.2% of people with asymptomatic infection infected anyone else. Hand hygiene mitigates most of that risk.

According to the Department of Health environment and sustainability manual, if aprons and gloves are not mixed with other waste (often the case in clinical practice), they should be disposed of in orange waste bags to be incinerated or undergo alternative treatment (chemical or heat disinfection). Incinerators release an average of 1 tonne of CO2 for every tonne of waste.

As healthcare workers we should avoid measures aimed at mitigating the pandemic which are of no significant benefit and which increase the environmental damage caused by single-use plastics. The environmental damage caused by dealing with the pandemic has already been recognised. The NHS could continue to be at the forefront of efforts to contain covid-19 in a more environmentally friendly manner. Work has begun to reduce the environmental impact of NHS PPE, such as trialling reusable face masks.

By incorporating evidence-based medicine and common sense, we could reduce our plastic waste while continuing to work in a safe environment and help to make the NHS ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2040 a reality. It is one we must achieve if we are to address the global climate change and ecological emergencies.

FareedShiva is a consultant in genitourinary medicine and HIV. He is currently working at St Marys Hospital, London.

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The plastic pandemic: could the environmental impact of the NHS response to covid-19 be reduced? - The BMJ - The BMJ

‘You have NO authority!’ US hits back at UK as Joe Biden charm offensive fails – Daily Express

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UK-US trade: Eustice says UK will set own food safety standards

Donald Trumps trade office warned Britain it had "no authority from the World Trade Organisation (WTO)" to impose tariffs on its own after it finally unshackles itself from the EU. The move comes after International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said tariffs would be scrapped as soon as the UK is out of the EU transition period on January 1 in a bid to help incentivise incoming US President Joe Biden.

The UK announced on Tuesday it would suspend tariffs on aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co jets and other US goods on January 1, describing the move as an attempt to de-escalate a long-running conflict over aircraft subsidies that has dragged the US and Europe into a tit-for-tat tariff war.

In a statement from United States Trade Representative, officials welcomed the move for a negotiated solution, but warned: The United States does not agree, however, that the UK would have any authority to impose tariffs.

Only the EU sued the United States at the WTO; the UK did not bring a case in its individual capacity.

Therefore, the UK has no authority from the WTO to participate in any such action after it is no longer part of the EU.

The decision comes amid wider trade talks between Britain and the US and ends a united front on tariffs among Airbus's political backers Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

Diplomats say US and EU trade chiefs are in "serious" negotiations to end the 16-year-old aircraft trade dispute.Last year the EU placed tariffs worth 3billion on American products.

READ MORE:UK will have 'less strategic importance' to US with No-Deal Brexit

The measures were imposed after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled the US had unlawfully subsidised Boeing, to the detriment of the UK and EU aerospace industry.

The subsidy dispute is the largest case ever handled by the WTO and comes to a head just as Britain is leaving the EU, forcing it to seek new trade deals.

Britain is hoping to secure a free trade deal with the US as early as possible in Mr Biden's presidency.

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However, Mr Biden opposes Brexit and has reservations about Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who he once likened to a "physical and emotional clone" of Mr Trump.

The tariff decision has now spawned a technical row between London and Brussels about whether Britain can in any case legally impose tariffs inherited from the EU after January 1 - expanding a list of jurisdictional issues arising from Britain's EU exit.

The EU said it alone could act in the transatlantic dispute.

But Britain has insisted it could revive the tariffs if needed but said their suspension would help resolve the subsidy spat, which has spread to hit other industries.

A UK spokesman said: We are serious about de-escalation. This suspension of tariffs demonstrates the seriousness we place on reaching a negotiated settlement.

Several sources said an aircraft agreement could be reached before Mr Trump leaves office next month.

A US source said: It is not clear how you resolve the UK part without addressing the rest of Europe.

The entire discussion has been structured around finding a whole solution".

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'You have NO authority!' US hits back at UK as Joe Biden charm offensive fails - Daily Express

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VR Meetings Are Weird, but They Beat Our Current Reality – WIRED

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The sun never sets in virtual reality. This occurred to me after an hour-long briefing in an Oculus Quest 2 headset. Joined by more than a dozen other floating avatars, we teleported our way around an outdoor meeting space that could only be described as aircraft-carrier-meets-Croatian-vacation.

Beyond the vast expanse of virtual breakout spaces was a stunning sunset, but the day never grew dark. When I pressed a button on the Touch Controller a tad too long, I ended up standing unnervingly close to another avatar, a fellow journalist. Then I remembered that you cant catch the coronavirus from a digital simulacrum.

The press briefing was one of a few ever to occur in VR, a spokesperson for this new app claimed. It's called Arthur, and part of the pitch is that its going to catapult VR for work into the mainstream, that meetings and collaboration sessions and deskside briefings will become headset briefings.

The app launches today, but its been in development for four years. The company behind it, also named Arthur, is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with employees scattered around the globe. It has secured seed funding from VC firm Draper Associates, and it lists the United Nations, Societe General, and a large automaker as its beta testers.

Taking a meeting in Arthur requires a literal suspension of reality. You exist only from the waist up (hey, just like Zoom!), and your shirtsleeves taper off to reveal blue computer arms, which move according to how you move the Oculus Quest controllers in your hands. Your digital eyes are obscured by Matrix-style glasses, and a headset microphone covers your virtual mouth. This is because the technology cant yet mimic facial expressions in VR, and its better than looking at dead eyes, says Arthur founder Christoph Fleischmann. My avatar looked nothing like me, except that it had dark brown hair.

Still, meeting in VR felt like somewhere else, if not somewhere in the physical world. I was sitting in the same living room Ive occupied for most of the year, but I was present with other people. I was aware that my headsets physical microphone was on, that anything I said would be part of the conversation. It felt rude to step away and start making coffee in my kitchen.

When Fleischmann urged the group to take a seat ahead of a presentation in a virtual amphitheater (which appeared on demand, the fastest and cheapest construction project ever), we scattered awkwardly among the seats the way we might in real life. And after the presentation, during which Fleischmann touted the collaborative benefits of working in VR, we teleported to a roof-deck bar and used our hand controllers to pick up virtual cocktails. Everyone loosened up, despite these being unreal drinks. All the while, the sun remained stuck in its permanent position of almost set. It was surreal, but it beat our current reality.

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Arthur wouldnt be the first to try to carve out a space for itself in enterprise VR. Until recently, VR headsetsas well as mixed-reality headsets, like Microsofts HoloLenswere prohibitively expensive, costing over $1,000 per unit. Any company looking to make inroads in the industry had to at least consider selling to big businesses, the ones who could afford the nascent technology. That was the approach Spatial took, a buzzy New York-based startup that WIREDs Julian Chokkattu covered earlier this year.

We always say were like Zoom and Slack had an AR/VR baby, Jacob Loewenstein, Spatials head of business, tells me over Zoom from his New York City apartment (the Zoom meeting was my request; I was on deadline and didnt want to dither in VR). And we really mean it. Because if we succeed its because weve made this thing just stupidly easy to use.

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VR Meetings Are Weird, but They Beat Our Current Reality - WIRED

Q&A: Maplewood Senior Living’s Brian Geyser on the Value of Virtual Reality – HealthTech Magazine

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Its also beneficial: 9 in 10 elderly adults reported feeling more relaxed and rated their well-being higher after engaging in VR sessions, according to a 2018 study conducted at a senior care residence in Minnesota.

Maplewood, which operates 15 communities in three states, uses Oculus headsets at each location. Administrators select and deliver VR programs created by Rendever, an engagement platform designed for seniors, via iPad devices.

Viewers can see the world, rekindle old memories and interact with each other even while quarantined.

Our residents really enjoy that feeling of being inside of this world, but also being together, Geyser says. Traveling is fun, but its a lot more fun if youre with the people you love.

He spoke more about the VR effort and its surprising impact:

Weve been doing VR since 2017. Early on in my tenure at Maplewood, I ran across the Rendever story and I was intrigued. It was a startup company at the time; these guys from MIT who created a VR platform specific for senior living.

I hadnt heard of anything like this before, so I decided to contact them and have a conversation, which resulted in Maplewood doing a pilot.

We were just astounded at the results and the impact on residents when we did the pilot in several of our Connecticut communities. The residents were blown away by the experience and they couldn't stop talking about it. I had never seen a reaction like that to any program that weve ever offered. They were calling it magical.

I remember specifically, it was virtual tours to places where they otherwise would never be able to go like Antarctica. It was the combination of feeling like youre standing in Antarctica, but at the same time these penguins are moving all around you.

Residents were reaching out; they were laughing and talking to each other, saying, Oh, turn to the left, look at the guy over there. It wasnt an animated gaming environment. It was real-life footage, so it felt very real to them.

Then, we took them into a puppy pen where they were surrounded by little puppies; seeing the reactions, the oohs and ahhs, was just so beautiful. We also took them to Africa to hang out with some elephants. Anything with animals was a huge hit.

A closer look at VR programs in action at Maplewood Senior Living, which has used the technology since 2017.

Were able to take people to familiar places, the places theyve traveled to in the past, such as Paris or London. We can also take them back to a childhood home or maybe their high school and have them stand right there and see it as it is today.

Rendever uses Google Street View technology; youre seeing it in a 3D environment, not on a flat screen.

We have residents who are just shocked they can see the house they grew up in. Theyre pointing to their bedroom window and telling stories about a tree there used to be a fort up there, and so on. It just brings this flood of memories back.

Its so social. All of the residents are in the same virtual environment together. So, you bring them all to the Eiffel Tower and theyre all looking up and theyre checking it out. And then someone will start telling stories about when they were there 50 years ago and the travel and the experience of being in France.

It really sparks conversation, and that was a big aha! moment for us.

The final thing that really pulled VR across the finish line for us is that the magic continued for days after the headsets came off. We would hear residents talking at dinner about the virtual travel they went on and how it affected them.

The key is to have your activities and programming teams prepared and enthused to champion the technology. They have to know about the VR program, and they have to understand its purpose and the ideal frequency to run it. And then they have to understand how to do a quick setup and to run it with a resident or a group.

An iPad serves as the control center. An activity programmer can use the iPad to select the virtual journeys. It's very easy technology to use.

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Q&A: Maplewood Senior Living's Brian Geyser on the Value of Virtual Reality - HealthTech Magazine

Virtual reality documentary to bring mega-telescope project to life – University News: The University of Western Australia

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The worlds largest radio telescope, which scientists from The University of Western Australia have contributed to through the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), will be the subject of a virtual reality documentary.

Award-winning West Australian production company White Spark Pictures has received funding from Screen Australia, Screenwest and Lotterywest to produce the documentary Beyond the Stars.

"Well take audiences on a VR tour of CSIROs Murchison Radio Astronomy-Observatory through the eyes of the people working on the site, the astronomers who will eventually use the SKA, and the Wajarri Yamaji traditional land owners.

The funding follows White Sparks first virtual reality production, The Antarctica Experience, which is one of the most successful VR documentary experiences of all time.

White Spark creative director Briege Whitehead said it was great to have an opportunity to promote cutting-edge science happening in her home state.

This production will allow people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to virtually experience the Australian site for the Square Kilometre Arraya part of the world that few will ever visit in person, she said.

It will be shot using specialised 360-degree cameras capable of extreme resolution.

"Well take audiences on a VR tour of CSIROs Murchison Radio Astronomy-Observatory through the eyes of the people working on the site, the astronomers who will eventually use the SKA, and the Wajarri Yamaji traditional land owners.

Beyond the Stars is also supported by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) and CSIRO, Australias national science agency.

ICRAR executive director Professor Peter Quinn, who is based at The University of Western Australia, said its an exciting time for the SKA.

The world is coming together to build a telescope capable of observing the first stars and galaxies to appear in the Universe 13 billion years ago, he said.

After nearly two decades of designing and decision-making, construction of the telescope is set to start in Australia and South Africa in the course of next year.

Its an enormous international effort, and were keen to bring as many people as possible along for the ride through virtual reality.

Western Australias remote Murchison region is a truly special place, said Rebecca Wheadon, CSIROs site entity leader for Australias SKA site.

We have a profound duty to share this landscape, its cultural history and our role in building the worlds biggest radio telescope, she said.

Beyond the Stars will feature at the new WA Museum Boola Bardip in late 2021, before touring to other Western Australian Museum venues in 2022.

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Virtual reality documentary to bring mega-telescope project to life - University News: The University of Western Australia

AdventHealth Shares Prize for Advancing Virtual Reality in Health Care – Adventist Review

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December 10, 2020

By: AdventHealth News, and Adventist Review

AdventHealth University and Full Sail University are proud to announce that their team for the Iron Dev competition has been named the winner in the category of Most Innovative Solution. Iron Dev is an annual competition held by the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). Winners in each category were selected based on the merit of their technology-based solution according to the scores of the judging committee and votes of the viewing public.

The virtual reality (VR) solution, which is currently a prototype created by the Full Sail University and AdventHealth University team, serves as a proof of concept for a virtual command center to help health-care facilities and systems like AdventHealth to visualize hospital resources and COVID-19 data points. The technology would allow health-care providers to make real-time decisions quickly by streamlining the allocation and distribution of resources.

With the unprecedented nature of COVID-19, we knew we wanted to create a futuristic solution to a current problem. Our technology allows users to visualize inputted data including COVID-19 data points, such as contact tracing and regional cases, as well as the available resources at health-care facilities, like the number of beds, nurses, and other medical necessities, Brandon Baker, director of the Immersive Technologies Lab at AdventHealth University, said. We are extremely proud of the collaboration between Full Sail University and AdventHealth University and the incredible work everyone on our team has done to advance the use of VR in the health-care industry.

Students and alumni at Full Sail University were able to learn and utilize their skills to create a VR solution prototype both under the time restrictions of the competition and in recognizing the real-world applications relevant to the current global pandemic. Important lessons students learned included time management, collaboration, and an in-depth look into the challenges and triumphs of VR.

Our partnership has been the foundation of some great VR solutions in the health-care industry, Luis Garcia, vice president of Emerging Technologies at Full Sail University, said. In addition to the visualization technology produced for the Iron Dev competition, we have also created a VR training solution that students at AdventHealth University use as a response to COVID-19 restrictions. In fact, the VR training solution enabled some of our graduates to gain employment with AdventHealth University, where they work on various projects, including the Iron Dev competition. We look forward to furthering our partnership and seeing what is next for us.

About AdventHealth University

AdventHealth University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution specializing in health-care education in a faith-affirming environment. The schools stated mission is to develop skilled professionals who live the healing values of Christ. Service oriented and guided by the values of nurture, excellence, spirituality, and stewardship, the school seeks to develop leaders who will practice health care as a ministry.

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AdventHealth Shares Prize for Advancing Virtual Reality in Health Care - Adventist Review

Global Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market Report 2020-2030: Rising Demand for Gesture and Haptic Control & Integration of AR and VR to…

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DUBLIN, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "AR and VR Market Research Report: By Type (AR, VR), Offering (Hardware, Software), Device Type (AR Devices, VR Devices), Application (Consumer, Commercial, Enterprise) - Global Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market is projected to account for a revenue of $1,274.4 billion in 2030, rising from $37.0 billion in 2019, progressing at a robust CAGR of 42.9% during the forecast period (2020-2030).

The rising penetration of smartphones and tablet computers, increasing technology adoption among enterprises, and surging focus of vendors on price reduction are the key factors leading to the growth of the market. Between AR and VR, the VR division accounted for the major share of the market in 2019.

The application of VR is rising in several industries, majorly gaming, and the prices of VR are declining, thereby leading to the increasing adoption of the technology. VR provided an immersive experience to consumers, which is why, companies in the gaming industry are incorporating these features into their services and products. The AR category is predicted to grow at a faster pace during the forecast period, owing to the various benefits offered by the technology.

On the basis of application, the AR and VR market is divided into enterprise, commercial, and consumer, out of which, the consumer division is predicted to hold the major share of the market in 2030. The rising awareness regarding AR and VR is the major reason for the growth of this division. The number of gamers across the globe is expected to rise in the coming years, which is projected to drive the demand for immersive and interactive gaming.

Geographically, the AR and VR market was dominated by North America during the historical period (2014-2019) and is predicted to hold the major share of the market during the forecast period as well. Within the region, the U.S. is leading the domain, owing to the presence of major companies in the country. In addition to this, the rising application of VR and AR in the healthcare and e-commerce sectors is also driving the growth of the regional domain.

The surging adoption of these technologies among enterprises is a key driving factor of the AR and VR market. The enterprise sector is one of the major targets for players in the domain. The potential of AR and VR technologies is huge in enterprises, as all key device manufacturers, solution providers, and app developers are targeting the sector. In addition to this, a lot of Fortune 500 businesses have started experimenting with VR and AR technologies, and few of them have already initiated pilot projects.

The surging penetration of tablet computers and smartphones is also a key driving factor of the AR and VR market. Smartphones are being considered the major hardware interface for VR and AR applications. Moreover, the number of smartphones is further predicted to reach 3.5 billion by 2020, which is a growth of 9.3% from 2019. Owing to this, AR and VR enterprises are focusing on these devices for expanded their footing in the industry.

In conclusion, the market is expanding due to the increasing adoption of AR and VR technologies in enterprises and rising penetration of smartphones.

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1. Research Background1.1 Research Objectives1.2 Market Definition1.3 Research Scope1.4 Key Stakeholders

Chapter 2. Research Methodology2.1 Secondary Research2.2 Primary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Data Triangulation2.5 Currency Conversion Rates2.6 Assumptions for the Study

Chapter 3. Executive Summary3.1 Voice of Industry Experts/KOLs

Chapter 4. Introduction4.1 Definition of Market Segments4.1.1 By Type4.1.1.1 AR4.1.1.1.1 Marker-based AR4.1.1.1.1.1 Passive marker4.1.1.1.1.2 Active marker4.1.1.1.2 Marker-less AR4.1.1.1.2.1 Model-based tracking4.1.1.1.2.2 Image-based processing4.1.1.2 VR4.1.1.2.1 Non-immersive4.1.1.2.2 Semi- and fully immersive4.1.2 By Offering4.1.2.1 Hardware4.1.2.1.1 Sensors4.1.2.1.2 Cameras4.1.2.1.3 Position trackers4.1.2.1.4 Displays and projectors4.1.2.1.5 Semiconductor components4.1.2.1.6 Others4.1.2.2 Software4.1.2.2.1 SDKs4.1.2.2.2 Cloud-based services4.1.2.2.3 AR software functions4.1.2.2.4 VR content creation4.1.3 By Device Type4.1.3.1 AR devices4.1.3.1.1 HMDs4.1.3.1.2 HUDs4.1.3.1.3 Handheld devices4.1.3.2 VR Devices4.1.3.2.1 HMDs4.1.3.2.2 Gesture-tracking devices4.1.3.2.3 Projector and display walls4.1.4 By Application4.1.4.1 Consumer4.1.4.1.1 Gaming4.1.4.1.2 Sports and entertainment4.1.4.2 Commercial4.1.4.2.1 Offline education and e-learning4.1.4.2.2 In-store retail and e-commerce4.1.4.2.3 Tourism4.1.4.3 Enterprise4.1.4.3.1 Healthcare4.1.4.3.2 Automotive4.1.4.3.3 Aerospace and defense4.1.4.3.4 Others4.2 Value Chain Analysis4.2.1 Component Suppliers4.2.2 Technology Suppliers4.2.3 Device Suppliers4.3 Market Dynamics4.3.1 Trends4.3.1.1 Growing focus of businesses on the aesthetics of AR and VR devices4.3.1.2 Increasing investments by tech corporations and venture capitalists4.3.1.3 Rising popularity of virtual playground applications4.3.2 Drivers4.3.2.1 Increasing penetration of smartphones and tablet computers4.3.2.2 Soaring demand for AR and VR in offline retail and e-commerce4.3.2.3 Rising technology adoption among enterprises4.3.2.4 Growing focus of vendors on price reduction4.3.2.5 Impact analysis of drivers on market forecast4.3.3 Restraints4.3.3.1 Potential health risks4.3.3.2 Technical imperfections4.3.3.3 Impact analysis of restraints on market forecast4.3.4 Opportunities4.3.4.1 Rising demand for gesture and haptic control4.3.4.2 Advancements in technology4.3.4.3 Integration of AR and VR to create MR4.4 Impact of COVID-19 on AR and VR Market4.5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Chapter 5. Global Market Size and Forecast5.1 By Type5.1.1 AR Market, by Technology5.1.1.1 Marker-based AR market, by type5.1.1.2 Marker-less AR market, by type5.1.2 VR Market, by Technology5.2 By Offering5.2.1 Hardware Market, by Type5.2.2 Software Market, by Type5.3 By Device Type5.3.1 AR Devices Market, by Type5.3.2 VR Devices Market, by Type5.4 By Application5.4.1 Consumer Application Market, by Type5.4.2 Commercial Application Market, by Type5.4.3 Enterprise Application Market, by Type5.5 By Region

Chapter 6. North America Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 7. Europe Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 8. APAC Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 9. LATAM Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 10. MEA Market Size and Forecast

Chapter 11. Major Markets for AR and VR11.1 U.S. AR and VR Market11.2 U.K. AR and VR Market11.3 Germany AR and VR Market11.4 China AR and VR Market11.5 Japan AR and VR Market11.6 India AR and VR Market

Chapter 12. Competitive Landscape12.1 List of Players and Their Offerings12.2 Market Share Analysis of Key Players12.2.1 Global Market Share Analysis12.3 Product Benchmarking of Key Players12.4 Competitive Benchmarking of Key Players12.5 Strategic Developments in the Market12.5.1 Mergers and Acquisitions12.5.2 Product Launches12.5.3 Partnerships12.5.4 Geographic Expansions12.5.5 Client Wins12.5.6 Other Developments

Chapter 13. Company Profiles13.1 Business Overview13.2 Product and Service Offerings13.3 Key Financial Summary

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/doj9tb

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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Global Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market Report 2020-2030: Rising Demand for Gesture and Haptic Control & Integration of AR and VR to...

Abbott Launches First Optical Coherence Tomography Virtual Reality Training Program for Cardiologists – MedTech Dive

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Press Releases PRESS RELEASE FROM ABBOTT

Virtual reality training improved cath lab staff learning engagement by 45% and knowledge retention by 72%

87% of studies show higher medical accuracy in medical practice by those trained with virtual reality

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Dec. 9, 2020 Abbott today announced the global release of its first virtual reality-based training program designed to change how interventional cardiologists are trained in using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging technology. The comprehensive new training program incorporates virtual reality (VR) with traditional training techniques to increase experience and expertise in using Abbotts OCT imaging and improve outcomes in patients needing a stent to open clogged arteries.

Abbott is expanding its training portfolio to help physicians gain experience with new therapy options, imaging and diagnostic tools to help improve patient outcomes. Virtual reality presents a promising approach to OCT training because it enables physicians to have the full experience of being in the catheterization laboratory by putting them in the "drivers seat" with imaging technology.

OCT is an intracoronary imaging platform offered by Abbott that helps physicians view and assess coronary arteries frominsidethe vessel with high precision. This view allows for an improved look at the nature of a patients coronary artery disease to improve treatment decisions and the quality of stent deployment. Recent data show that in88% of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures[1]managed with OCT workflow, physician decision-making changed compared with initial, angiographically-guided strategy, demonstrating that OCT imaging can help to drive better clinical outcomes. Training remains critical to ensuring physicians and hospitals can best utilize the technology to optimize patients results.

"Its undeniable that OCT imaging technology is unlocking new opportunities to improve outcomes for our patients. Abbotts new VR training program has provided my team the experience of being in the cath lab and understanding OCT technology quickly and efficiently," said Vamsi Krishna, M.D., director, Ascension, Seton Hays Medical Center. "The OCT VR program enhances training for OCT imaging technology through innovative educational programs. Virtual reality is truly the next wave of training that will ultimately improve patient outcomes and Im very excited to be a part of the new program."

Virtual Reality eliminates barriers for cardiologists to improve cardiovascular health and increase competency of technology

Abbotts new OCT virtual reality-based training programs, powered by Oculus Go, will dramatically enhance decision-making for physicians who utilize OCT instead of angiography. The training is based on the comprehensive OCT experience and input of Dr. Richard A. Shlofmitz, MD, FACC, chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center, and the success he found in translating new training concepts into improvements in patient care. As a result, Abbott is leveraging technology that has been found to increase training success dramatically. In fact, higher accuracy in medical practice was shown in87% of studies[2]by those trained with virtual reality versus traditional techniques. According to Abbott research, virtual reality techniques improved cath lab staff learning engagement by45%[3]andknowledge retention by 72%[4].

"Abbotts new OCT training enables interventional cardiologists to receive more in-depth, experiential training to encourage more precise diagnoses, while healthcare systems will experience cost savings through a reduction in the number of staff training courses needed," said Harvinder Singh, vice president, global commercial operations of Abbotts vascular business. "Furthermore, the virtual reality training program will not only enhance accuracy to improve patient outcomes, but it also furthers the industrys adoption of innovative technologies in healthcare."

"Virtual reality-based training programs are truly changing the way interventional cardiologists learn and adopt new technologies, such as OCT, that are helping physicians make better decisions in the cath lab," said Nick West, M.D., divisional vice president, medical affairs, and chief medical officer of Abbotts vascular business. "The program is also furthering Abbotts ability to use technology and innovations to drive better patient outcomes."

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 107,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us atwww.abbott.com, on LinkedIn atwww.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/Abbottand on Twitter @AbbottNews.

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Abbott Launches First Optical Coherence Tomography Virtual Reality Training Program for Cardiologists - MedTech Dive

Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) Market- Featuring Alphabet Inc., DAQRI LLC, Facebook Inc., among others to contribute to the market…

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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market is poised to grow by $ 125.19 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 35% during the forecast period.

Worried about the impact of COVID-19 on your Business? Here is an Exclusive report talking about Market scenarios, Estimates, the impact of lockdown, and Customer Behaviour.

Get FREE Sample Report in Minutes!

The report on the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis.

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing demand for AR and VR technology.

The augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market analysis includes technology segment and geography landscape. This study identifies the increasing number of M&A activities as one of the prime reasons driving the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market growth during the next few years.

This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters.

The augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) market covers the following areas:

Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) Market SizingAugmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) Market ForecastAugmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) Market Analysis

Companies Mentioned

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Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Technology

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) Market- Featuring Alphabet Inc., DAQRI LLC, Facebook Inc., among others to contribute to the market...

5 Things To Know About Balenciagas Virtual Reality AW21 Show – British Vogue

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Inspired by the video game Gvasalia created as part of the show, the looks in the collection represented the players featured in the game, which in turn referenced classic video game archetypes. The knight in shining armour materialised, quite literally, in shining armour; a nod, no doubt, to Nicolas Ghesquires spring/summer 2007 robot collection for Balenciaga, but reinterpreted in medieval chevalier form in beautiful pieces forged by bona fide armour-makers in France. The valiant astronaut made an appearance, too, mixing with the likes of face-painted goths and post-apocalyptic characters in ragged knitwear, ripped and patched-up denim, tattered cocktail dresses, and massive threaded coats that looked like gutted teddy bears. Fashion in its essence is a sort of armour today. It completes our personal identities and shows us in the way we want to be visually perceived by the world around us. So, in a way, the way we dress does play a role in our self-protection. This is a metaphor, but in reality, the armour in this collection was made to connect the long-forgotten past to the much-awaited future, Gvasalia said. We used the exact craftsmanship used in the Middle Ages to make the armour. It can be seen as a sort of a military sportswear of the time, which protected the warriors but also made their movements possible in battle. The articulation of that medieval armour, however, is exactly the same as that of a futuristic robot or android, because the human body is still the same all those centuries later. And my job as a dressmaker is to explore that relation between the human body and what it wears.

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5 Things To Know About Balenciagas Virtual Reality AW21 Show - British Vogue

Glue announces major new release of its Virtual Reality collaboration platform with Glue 2.0 – Auganix

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In Virtual Reality News

December 8, 2020 Glue Collaboration, a provider of real-time virtual reality (VR) software services, has today announced a major new release of its Glue VR collaboration platform. Glue 2.0 enables greater immersion and frictionless interaction for remote teams allowing them to co-create, learn, plan and share together.

Available to all our users today, this is our most significant release so far, said Jussi Havu, CEO at Glue Collaboration. Alongside a new operating system with speech-to-text capabilities, were introducing our ground-breaking new avatars. Everything adds up to our most immersive VR meetings yet, providing a space for remote workers to effectively collaborate even when theyre thousands of miles apart.

Glue provides shared virtual environments where dispersed participants can come together as if they were face to face in a real physical space. Appealing to peoples visual, haptic and auditory senses, Glue provides a level of immersion in remote meetings that goes beyond what is possible with conventional video conferencing software.

In the latest update, Glue introduces its most expressive avatars yet. According to the company, these leverage artificial intelligence and advanced graphics capabilities to more closely mimic peoples behavior and features. The enhancements are designed to make communication feel more natural, ensuring users focus on meetings rather than worrying about adjusting their camera.

To develop the new avatars, Glue has integrated new AI-powered facial animation technology. For this, it turned to Edinburgh-based Rapport, a provider of facial animation and lip syncing technology.

We worked with Glue to enable facial animation that looks as natural as possible and is generated in real-time from audio input alone, said Gregor Hofer, CEO and Founder at Rapport. Were especially delighted with the new Glue avatars as they exhibit a level of expressiveness that makes them highly engaging and compelling.

Using the new built-in avatar configurator, users can also create their own avatar, adjusting face shape and features, hair and clothing as well as customizing colors. Millions of permutations are possible, according to the company.

We let our users choose their own appearance, as Glue is a place where everyone can be themselves, said Sami Syrj, Head of Design at Glue. We have deliberately chosen to use expressive, animated avatars rather than lifelike virtual representations of ourselves. This prevents uncanny valley, the eerie sensation people experience if a digital representation imperfectly resembles human behavior.

Other new features in Glue 2.0 include:

Glue is also expanding the library of ready and customizable spaces that teams can use with a new space called Mont Matiz a hill-top, open-air space that provides users with a relaxing setting for creative workshops and large events like employee town halls.

The company highlighted several enterprises that have been using the Glue platform for virtual collaboration, including: Air France-KLM, Fazer, Microsoft, Patria, Axel Springer, BCG Platinion, T-Systems Multimedia Solutions, and Maillefer.

For more information on the Glue platform, please click here.

Image / video credit: Glue / Vimeo

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he covers news articles on both the AR and VR industries. He also has an interest in human augmentation technology as a whole, and does not just limit his learning specifically to the visual experience side of things.

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Glue announces major new release of its Virtual Reality collaboration platform with Glue 2.0 - Auganix

Virtual Reality proving big business as Zero Latency opens 46th venue in 5 years – techAU

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Virtual Reality is something most of us have been able to experience at home, or at a friends house. While the experience is compelling, for many, theyd struggle to justify the cost, or space for a permanent VR setup at home.

Thankfully VR as a destination is proving to be quite the draw card and Zero Latency recently opened its doors at a new venue in Sydney.

Located at 219 ORiordan Street, Mascot, Zero Latency VR Sydney allows players to explore VR experiences with up to seven friends, without being restricted by any wires.

Visitors can survive a reality TV show set in the zombie apocalypse inUndead Arena, or attempt to escape a stranded space station taken over by robots inSingularity.

Zero Latency says theyre working on more experiences that will be rolled out over time, including the highly anticipatedFar Cry VR(coming 2021), based on the hit Ubisoft game Far Cry 3.

This is the sixth Zero Latency VR venue in Australia, joining the existing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and South Melbourne venues, and the 46th venue worldwide since the first venue was opened in Melbourne in 2015.

Were excited to bring our free-roam virtual reality experience to Sydney, allowing players to explore digital worlds as if they were actually living in them.

Whether youre looking for something to do with family and friends, a fun hens and bucks night activity, or something different for the work Christmas party, a session in Zero Latency VR wont soon be forgotten.

To experience Zero Latency VR, players wear a VR headset, strap into a backpack which tracks movement, and use a controller to interact with the virtual world.

During the experience, players can navigate around the virtual environment theyve chosen by physically moving around the 200 square metre play space and communicating with their friends via built-in microphones and speakers.

Visitors to Zero Latency VR Sydney can have peace of mind knowing that theyll have a safe and hygienic experience.

Zero Latency VRs safety and hygiene standards were high before COVID-19, but weve taken extra steps in all our venues to ensure visitors will have an enjoyable, safe experience when they visit.

Weve always performed vigorous sanitisation and disinfection of all gear before and after each session, but weve now also adjusted the safety alarms in our games to keep players 1.5 metres apart throughout their experience, and our Game Masters have completed additional training in hygiene practices including temperature checks, sanitation processes, and using personal protective equipment.

If youre new to VR, then you can see some of the equipment used in the photo gallery below, taken at the Zero Latency location in Melbourne.

Book tickets athttps://booking.zerolatencyvr.com/book-now/sydney, with prices at $59 (Tuesday Thursday) and $69 (Friday Sunday).

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Virtual Reality proving big business as Zero Latency opens 46th venue in 5 years - techAU

Osso VR and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Partner to Advance Rural Medicine Using Virtual Reality – OrthoSpineNews

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Virtual reality surgical training advancing residents surgical skills during COVID-19 and beyond

PALO ALTO, Calif., and HUNTINGTON, WV, Dec. 10, 2020 A recent report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects that the United States will face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033. The impending physician shortage combined with COVID-19 travel restrictions is no doubt accelerating this supply shortage which is having a disproportionate impact on rural areas.

The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, located in the community of Huntington, West Virginia, has adopted a virtual reality (VR) training & assessment platform, Osso VR, to help streamline surgical education with the ultimate goal of providing a larger number of consistently trained providers. Since 2018, medical students and residents at Marshall University have used Osso VR to repeatedly practice, learn and track progress in a wide variety of procedures in VR.

Residency programs must continue to evolve to produce top-notch residents. Now, due to COVID-19, we are trying to balance social distancing, resident education, and patient safety all simultaneously. As technology continues to rapidly evolve, Osso VR has led the way in affordable and realistic virtual training for our medical students and orthopaedic residents. The viral pandemic has ensured this technology is here to stay, said Matthew Bullock, DO, MPT, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Marshall University and Associate Program Director for the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency.

Osso VRs surgical training technology provides on-demand, educational experiences that are effective, repeatable, and measurable to help surgeons reach proficiency with new procedures and devices. The platform has become integral to surgical training programs worldwide and is currently used by 20+ leading teaching hospitals and 14 top medical device companies in 20 countries.

As a former resident myself, I empathize with the situation todays surgeons are in as a result of COVID-19. The data shows that pre-COVID graduation residents were increasingly undertrained and underprepared for practice. This pandemic unfortunately has had a significant negative impact on this dynamic with likely downstream ramifications were only beginning to discover, said Justin Barad, MD, Osso VRs Co-Founder and CEO. Our dream at Osso VR is to make training more effective, efficient and trackable so that we can streamline the 14-16 years it takes to become a surgeon. With a bigger and fast pipeline of highly proficient providers, we will be able to continue to provide quality care for patients all around the world.

For more information, visit http://www.ossovr.com.

About Osso VR

Osso VR is an award-winning, clinically validated surgical training platform designed for medical device companies, practicing surgeons, residents and medical students of all skill levels. Using immersive VR technology, the scalable platform offers a realistic, hands-on training environment that leads to real world performance gains and ultimately improved patient outcomes. Osso VR is the first training platform to incorporate assessment into its modules, objectively measuring the trainees knowledge of steps, level of precision and overall efficiency throughout the procedure providing a benchmark for proficiency.

Led by UCLA and Harvard trained orthopedic surgeon Justin Barad, MD, the Osso VR team has a deep background in clinical care, medical technology, and VR development. To learn more, visit http://www.ossovr.com.

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Osso VR and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Partner to Advance Rural Medicine Using Virtual Reality - OrthoSpineNews

Review: Myst Enters the Age of Virtual Reality – thirdcoastreview.com

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Screenshot: Myst

The Quest 2 continues to impress me, so much so that its become the virtual reality headset that I use the most. It doesnt outperform my Valve Index, but its mobility makes it convenient in a way that the Index cant touch. It isnt a graphical powerhouse, but it gets the job done. Its the perfect fit for puzzle games, like The Room VR: A Dark Matter and now Myst. I always thought Myst would be a good fit for virtual reality.

Myst is an adventure puzzle game that doesnt really need an introductionits one of the original classics. I have nostalgic memories of trying to figure out Mysts cryptic puzzles at a very young age, but I never got too far in the classic version of the game. In Myst you play as a traveler who stumbles across the Myst book, and after reading it, find yourself on a mysterious island full of cryptic puzzles controlling strange mechanisms. Nothing is explained outrightits all about exploration and discovery.

Screenshot: Myst

Myst has been completely rebuilt for VR. I thought I would be playing the real Myst version updated for virtual reality, but thats not the case. That means visually, things look different. Gone are the FMV shots of actors, replaced with new 3D modelswhich is a shame, since it loses a tiny bit of charm. Im pretty sure they kept the same voice acting, though, so it retains some of the originals cheesy line reads. If youve played Myst before in any of its forms, youll feel at home here. Locations and puzzles work mostly you would expect, and the sound effects and music remain intact.

There are some slight differences between Myst VR and its other versions. First of all, when starting a new game, you have the option to randomize puzzles. This allows Myst to be a somewhat refreshing experienceif youve played through Myst countless times, the randomization will change certain aspects of the game to make them unpredictable. Outside of puzzle randomization, there have been other changes. Some puzzles are tweaked (presumably) to be a little easier in VR. Some items that you have to interact with have been raised to be above waist levelssomething I very much appreciate, especially due to the lack of any sort of distance grabbing. Most VR games implement a sort of telekinesis to alleviate some of the bending and reaching required to grab objects, but thats not present in Myst. With the puzzles reconfigured for virtual reality, though, I never felt like such a feature was necessary.

What I did find necessary was some method of note taking. Myst doesnt hold your hand at any point. It doesnt really even make it clear when youre correctly solving a puzzle until the solution is working. I found myself taking off my Quest 2 a few times to take notes of numbers and other information that would otherwise leave my brain almost immediately. It would have been fantastic to have some sort of virtual notepad to jot down ideas, but alas, it is not so. Then again, reading those notes back might be a bit of an issue on Quest 2.

While Myst, graphically, holds up alright, its also its weakest feature. Open areas are covered in a fog, which is unsurprising and not as extreme as I thought it would be. The most egregious graphical issue is the readability of text. It doesnt come up often in Myst, but the few hand written notes that Ive come across are horribly pixelated, and surprisingly hard to read. Myst runs well on the Quest 2, however, and is a comfortable VR experience. I mostly used teleportation to get around, but smooth movement is also available for those who arent as susceptible to motion sickness in VR as I am.

If you know nothing about Myst going in, you might be confused whats happening in its story. Its purposefully enigmatic with little introduction. Even as you move through the different areas (called Ages) and you unlock more books, the story is a little slippery. The gist of it is this: there are two sons, Sirrus and Archeron, both trapped in books. You have to scour the Ages of Myst to recover the proper pages for each book. As you do this, the brothers motivations and personalities are revealed, and you can learn more about what happened to get them trapped there. I dont want to spoil anything for this 27 year old game, because this VR version is a possible new point of entry to those who havent played Myst and its many sequels. There is not really any character interaction, thoughdealing with the few characters that make up Myst is akin to watching a video and making a decision afterwards.

The type of puzzles youll encounter in Myst are varied, and interesting. Theres a reason Myst was popular back in 1993 and remains so to this day. For me, as I found myself stuck in Myst, right before giving up I would find a new clue or interaction that would drive me to continue forward. Some puzzles can be figured out with few other clues, but most of the puzzles are sprawling, with some requiring interaction with other puzzles or objects that are far away to solve. Myst is a casual game without any enemies or time pressure, but there are a few times where timing is required to successfully solve a puzzle.

With a few tweaks, the puzzles work great in virtual reality. There arent as many objects to interact with as you might find in other similar VR games, but thats just a byproduct of its age. The new puzzles do take advantage of your ability to grab objects, twist knobs, press buttons and pull levelssomething you could only do with mouse clicks until now.The new way of solving old puzzles in Myst is fun, but some of Mysts larger puzzles felt a little tiresome in VR. Redirecting the long water pipes in the Channelwood Age, for instance, felt more tedious than it used to, and all of the twisting even made me a bit motion sickthe only time it was an issue I was while playing. While I found that playing while standing felt the most natural, Myst is completely able to be played while sittingespecially if youre patient with movement and positioning, so you can get yourself within reach of some of the puzzle elements.

Myst has come into a new Agevirtual realityand its a pretty good fit. Its graphically acceptable, except for the hard-to-read text. The puzzles are classics, and with a few tweaks work well in VR. Being able to interact with objects added a tactile element to Myst that really ups the immersiona real treat for long-time fans of this classic series. If you love puzzle games, I definitely recommend thisand if youre a long-time fan of the Myst franchise, this is the closest youll come to stepping into one of Atrus books.

Myst is available tomorrow on Oculus Quest 2, and will be coming soon to SteamVR.

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Review: Myst Enters the Age of Virtual Reality - thirdcoastreview.com