20/06/2023

Science Today highlights project led by the Pi Center

The article “Metaverse: a new and powerful research tool”, published this month in the magazine Ciência Hoje , discusses the application of the technology ranging from medicine and construction to education and the protection of cultural heritage.

Written by Luiz Velho, researcher at Visgraf (Vision and Computer Graphics Laboratory – IMPA), Jorge Lopes, from INT (National Institute of Technology) , Matteo Moriconi (VFXRio) , Heron Werner (Dasa) and Sergio Alex Kugland de Azevedo , from Lapid (Digital Image Processing Laboratory), the text also addresses Space-XP, a project led by the Pi Center and supported by Faperj (Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro), whose main objective is the use of augmented reality to benefit significant socioeconomic areas.

Developed by a consortium of laboratories, Space -XR generates immersive 3D visualizations for medical use through mathematical tools and their applications. The virtual models developed assist in areas such as fetal medicine, neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, and transplants.

“XR offers interactive learning opportunities, especially in the healthcare field, to simulate surgical procedures, train professionals, and optimize production. For students, the virtual experience can be more instructive than traditional teaching, with ethical and safety advantages,” the text highlights.

The text also discusses how the metaverse contributed to preserving the cultural heritage of the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, which caught fire in 2018. Before the fire, several monuments and archaeological sites were scanned and can now be explored through virtual reality. The full publication is available at this link.