With the aim of continuing at the forefront of sanitary education and technological innovation, the last academic year the University added to its facilities a new anatomical digital equipment – specifically applied to university education -, consisting of a 3D visualization system and a tactile virtual table. This system allows students from the School of Medicine to complement traditional education on Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology with mockups and exact replicas of digital human bodies.

This digital system offers students the possibility of analyzing and solving clinical cases related to anatomical structures. To this end, CEU has a systematization that visualizes anatomical structures from its different angles and axes (sagittal, coronal, transverse), as well as the cardiovascular and nervous system or the locomotor system (skeletal and muscular), digestive, cardiocirculatory, and genitourinary.

Along with complementing their education in practical classes, students have the possibility to book individual rooms in which they can make use of the 3D visualization system. This way students from the different degrees from the School of Medicine can complement the theoretical studies from certain subjects with the use of 3D virtual reality glasses.

Integrated Master in Virtual Reality with PlayStation

In this digitalization and technological innovation process, the University’s Institute of Technology has an Integrated Master in Virtual Reality with PlayStation; the company provides enabled spaces with equipment for students to acquire real and practical knowledge that will be of great help when they enter the labor market.

With a common first part for all Engineering and Architecture students, the program includes two specializations that correspond to each one of the main roles in the creation of video games and interactive experiences: Development and Art. The development section has been designed especially for those students who are taking one of CEU’s Engineering degrees (Computer Science, Telecommunications, or Biomedical) in the knowledge of computer systems and new technologies. The art section is aimed at students from the Architecture degree based on the knowledge of drawing, proportions, spaces, and three-dimensional design.

Development projects

The University is also developing, in collaboration with Nokia, the ‘JIRAFA’ project, led by the director of the Telecommunications Systems Engineering degree and coordinator of the Integrated Master in Virtual Reality with Playstation, Rodrigo García. This idea consists of the development of a streaming platform, and the purpose behind is that a physiotherapy clinic patient can be able to perform the different sessions at home, with low-cost virtual reality glasses (since the processing is done remotely) and in direct contact with the medical professional. This leading development, with the potential of making available remote virtual reality applications to anyone, will be an even more attractive option with the deployment of 5G technologies.

Additionally, work is also being done on the ‘RETOS’ project, led by the professor from the Information Technology Department, Rafael Raya, for the development of an immersive video game for children who have to undergo serious arm rehabilitation; meaning that the child is integrated with an exoskeleton since the patient normally has very little mobility or almost no control over this part of their body. This game will use artificial intelligence to optimize the exercises that the game proposes to each patient and, it will also be specially designed to be attractive to toddlers, an age group difficult to work with in intense rehabilitation. The project is financed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.