US Study: Wii Aids Surgeon Performance News
Jon Wilcox
17/01/2008
Kororinpa: Marble Mania cited as one of the most helpful games in improving overall performance in surgery...
Not content with helping burn some extra calories, a new study from the United States is today suggesting that playing Wii could help improve the performance of surgeons in the build up to operations.
The claim, being made by non-profit health organisation Banner Good Samaritan Health Center in Arizona, was made following tests where eight trainee surgeons played Wii for an hour before going into Operating Room conditions and 'performing surgery' on virtual surgery computer systems.
Whilst you may think Atlus' Truma Center would come high in the study, it turns out that Hudson's Kororinpa: Marble Mania proved most effective, with an improvement of up to 50% in tool control.
The results of the study are due to be unveiled in detail at the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality conference, which is taking place in California towards the end of the month. Despite the apparent advantage of playing Wii ahead of surgery, let's just hope that some don't get too absorbed in all that game playing - the adage of 'one more go' could prove all too fatal for those waiting an emergency op.