14 DAY TRIAL // The Nintendo Wii is a hugely successful gaming console, thanks to its huge library of games, easy-to-use interface and the fact that it is made by Nintendo, one of the most recognizable gaming companies that is also quite respected by others.
But a lot of Wii's success is due to the fact that its motion-sensitive controls have offered a completely new experience to everyone who has played on it. We've heard how the game console can help patients recover and improve their balance, but it now seems that the device can also aid surgeons improve their skills and get a better grip on how to make a careful operation.
According to a story reported by Yahoo! News, playing with the Wii can help the doctors improve their finer skills, thus becoming less prone to mistakes. A recent experiment was conducted at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Arizona, as two groups of surgeons were asked to perform a virtual laparoscopic surgery with a tool that simulated a patient's body. One group was asked to play the Wii for an hour, while the other just waited before the test would begin.
The results were very interesting, as those who played on the Wii showed 48% higher scores than the ones who didn't do anything before the test. They worked faster and more accurately, showing that it was important for them to play with motion-sensitive controls.
Researchers are now looking into creating specific applications for the Wii in order to provide an even better training for surgeons, which will incorporate procedures such as suturing or other things. “There's really no accurate way to train surgeons in the operating room, so it's virtually all the on-the-job training, which is very time-inefficient,” researcher Mark Smith explained. “There are surgery simulators out there, but these are still very expensive. With the Wii, we have a very easy and inexpensive platform where surgery residents can learn and develop their skills.”
So, while Nintendo has a huge success on the gaming market, it seems that the applications for its Wii console extend boundaries and can even help surgeons save lives. With the upcoming MotionPlus peripheral, which enables more accurate motion tracking, things are going to get even better for surgeons who are playing on the Wii.