Abstract
The first decade of the 21st century witnessed the ascent of advanced personal computing devices, marking a paradigm shift that has transformed every aspect of our daily lives, including the experience and delivery of health care. Extended reality (XR)—encompassing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality, mixed reality, and other forms of spatial computing—is on course to affect a comparable widespread impact on society and the health care sector.
The origins of medical extended reality (MXR) are rooted in the early explorations of VR during the 1980s and 1990s, which were initially applied in psychological therapy and simulation-based training.1,2 As technological capabilities have evolved, the spectrum of MXR applications has expanded substantially, leading to its recognition and validation by regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 3 This formal recognition is a significant hallmark of progress for MXR, signaling not only its legitimacy but also encouraging further innovation and implementation of these technologies into health care delivery.
Since the early 2010s, the applications of XR in health care have surged, propelled by the advent of accessible development platforms that have lowered barriers to innovation in spatial computing. This democratization has not only revitalized the XR industry but also spurred significant growth across various sectors, including health care. Coupled with exponential advancements in computational power and artificial intelligence (AI), these developments are setting the stage for unprecedented progress in how we interact with digital environments and how health care can be augmented by these cutting-edge technologies.
The expanding compendium of MXR research now spans an extensive range of subjects. It delves into therapeutic applications such as pain mitigation,4,5 rehabilitative strategies,6,7 and psychological interventions,8,9 extends into procedural skill enhancement10,11 and medical pedagogy, 12 and encompasses the ethical considerations and societal reception of immersive technologies. It also explores the foundational technologies of MXR, combining AI with spatial computing to forge new frontiers.13,14 This assortment of topics not only illustrates the adaptability of MXR to meet diverse health care challenges but also highlights its broad influence across the spectrum of medical disciplines, underscoring the multidisciplinary nature of its evolution and implementation.
In August of 2022, the American Medical Extended Reality Association (AMXRA) was established as a foundational organization dedicated to supporting MXR through the creation of a professional society dedicated to this burgeoning field. The mission of AMXRA is to advance the science and practice of MXR through promoting best practices in care delivery, scientific investigation, innovation, education, advocacy, and community. In partnership with the society's publishing partner, Mary Ann Liebert, one of AMXRA's first major initiatives was the creation of a peer-reviewed journal entirely dedicated to MXR—the Journal of Medical Extended Reality.
The journal stands at the forefront of the field of MXR, an interdisciplinary science focused on the role of XR technologies in health care. With the rapid advances in XR hardware and software, it is vital to examine how XR technologies can promote human health and well-being at scale. As the journal of record for MXR and the official journal of the AMXRA, the Journal of Medical Extended Reality serves as a platform for researchers, practitioners, and innovators across disciplines to explore the multifaceted role of XR in health care and a foundational core for the MXR field.
The establishment of the journal is foundational to defining the current and future states of MXR, the science that supports MXR use, and detailing breakthroughs in MXR. We believe that MXR will become a distinct field of medicine in the 21st century and that AMXRA, along with its flagship journal, will help elevate this movement by featuring cutting edge international research within the field of MXR.
We are excited to share the inaugural collection of articles for the journal. Among them is the first of many planned AMXRA guidelines, titled “What is Medical Extended Reality? A Taxonomy Defining the Current Breadth and Depth of an Evolving Field.” 15 In this guidance document, a panel of AMXRA members, including members of the editorial advisory board for the journal, introduce a comprehensive taxonomy for MXR, developed through a multidisciplinary and international collaboration among experts.
By seeking to standardize terminology, categorize existing work, and provide a structured framework for future research and development in MXR, the guideline offers a framework for researchers, clinicians, funders, academic publishers, and regulators, facilitating clearer communication and categorization in this field. As MXR grows, we hope this AMXRA document will be helpful in guiding the field's development and ensuring a cohesive understanding of its multifaceted nature.
It is an honor and privilege to help launch this new journal in collaboration with an incredible editorial board hailing from around the world. In selecting the inaugural board, we sought to engage a diverse group of editors based on their publications in the field, foundational contributions to MXR, international perspectives, and multidisciplinary expertise. Without their tireless dedication to the field, and to the journal, we would not be able to write these words. We look forward to expanding the publication channels to accommodate the burgeoning number of MXR articles, and look forward to a collegial and collaborative future for the journal that supports the growing worldwide MXR community and the patients they serve.