THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, MAKE THAT GOOGLE GLASS, PLEASE!
By Wanda Lester
“Where should I go?” – Alice.
“That depends on where you want to end up.” – The Cheshire Cat.”
– Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
To be honest, the first time I learned anything about Google Glass, it concerned me. Like Alice lost in Wonderland, I asked myself ifthisistruly the way we should, or even want,to be going with technology.As more information aboutthe use ofGoogle Glass in operating roomshas come out,that concernhas been eased. Recently inspiringnews articles began to appear, and now I look at Google Glass from an entirely different viewpoint.
On August 21, 2013Ohio surgeon, Dr. Christopher Kaeding was the firstin the United Statesto use Google Glass duringan ACL surgery. Thisprocedure reconstructs or repairs?theanteriorcruciate ligament, part of the knee joint.ibut you already know that!
Dr.Anil Shahof Chicagowas the first plastic surgeon to ever use Google Glass during a plastic surgery procedure. On December 31, 2013a rhinoplasty (nose job), wasperformedto repair the nose of a woman who had broken her nose in a fall at an amusement park the previous October. (What a horrible experience…talk about anxiety!!)
According to Dr. Shah, there were multiple advantages to having the Google Glass technology. X-rays and MRIs were immediately available to him without having to look away from the patient, which could be crucial. Also, he was able to communicate with the patient’s family while still in the operating room,andwas able torecordthe outcome of the surgery before a cast was put in place.
“That means she won’t have to wait in suspense while she’s in a cast wondering how she looks,”?said Shah. “I think it helps the surgeon concentrate more on the case and more on what’s relevant, and just get rid of the distractions on the outside.”ii
The patient was pleased with the results, too! “This is like science fiction…I’m looking forward to being able to breath the right way and not have constant headaches and pressure and pain.”iii
Times have changed. Likeit or not,anxiety-inducing or not, advancements in technology such as Google Glass arehere to stay. This really is the stuff science fiction writers have been talking about! Sounds like Wonderland to me.
