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Vet Med Library Information: VR Anatomy

This page and corresponding tabs provide information about the Veterinary Medicine Library's resources, policies, services, etc. at Virginia Tech

Using VR in the Vet Med Library

The Vet Med Library provides access to the VR Anatomical programs and equipment.  Stop by the library's front desk to check out the headset, two handsets, and receive a short introduction on how to use the program. If using in groups, one group member will have the equipment charged out to his/her account.

When finished with the program, return the headset and handset to the front desk and take a survey about your experience using the software to help us continue to make improvements.

Feedback and Collaborators Wanted

The project team requests your feedback, seeks research collaborators, and plans for collaborative development opportunities.

  • External parties are requested to register their use and interest here.
  • Individuals or groups using VR animals within the Vet Med library are invited to complete the in-library survey.

Creating a VR space

Planning for Virtual Reality: An Introductory Guide (document that provides step-by-step instructions and considerations to creating a VR space). A PDF version is available here.

Contributors

The VR Dog and Cow were created under Principal Investigator, Michael Nappier, DVM, in collaboration with individuals and groups from the following Virginia Tech entities: University Libraries, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Institute for Creativity and Technology, and the School of Visual Arts. The team thanks the University of Pennsylvania for use of canine CT data.

About Open Source VR for Veterinary Medicine

Designed to overcome pedagogical challenges specific to veterinary medical education, the VR animals are designed to provide a no-cost, interactive, and three dimensional alternative to flat anatomy images or cadavers. The open source license allows free use and is intended to encourage collaborative development and sharing.

Register your use here:
     https://forms.gle/G4rzuAnoNcoHmptP6

Current VR Programs Available

Dog, Version 1.0 (Web-based and GitHub)

  • Skeletal system
  • Organs (currently: bladder, duodenum, esophagus, heart, intestines, kidneys, lungs, spinal cord, spleen)
  • Ability to add / remove layers to customize anatomy showing at any given point
     

Cow, Version 0.1 Beta (GitHub only)

  • Skeletal system
  • Organs (currently: heart, kidney, lungs, stomach)


Equine, Version 0.1 Beta(Web-based only)

  • Skeletal system

Web-based version

We currently have a web-based version of both the dog and equine models.  These can be selected and viewed at the following link:

https://virtualanimalproject.vetmed.vt.edu/

The "layering" option that is available in the VR versions below is currently being developed, but you can use your mouse/trackpad to move the models around. 

The goal is for the web-based model to work within VR headsets directly and no longer require Steam VR to operate. 

GitHub - Downloading the Open Source Files

Virtual Reality Dog 1.0
     https://github.com/VTUL/vt-vr-dog

Virtual Reality Cow 0.1 Beta
     https://github.com/VTUL/vt-vr-cow

Contacts

Project Principal Investigator:
     Dr. Michael Nappier,  mtnapp1@vt.edu

Head of Vet Med Library:
     Kiri Debose  kdebose@vt.edu

Media/Publicity:
     Alison Elward, elwarda@vt.edu
     Ann Brown annbrown@vt.edu