Yup, there is absolutely no exaggeration here as that is exactly what a Haptic Cow promises for all those young and up coming veterinarians who are eager to learn their craft by sticking their hand up a cow’s rectum. Since the procedure is a must to check for pregnancy and health of the cow on certain occasions, you might as well use a ‘virtual cow’ to make it lot less tidy during the many times you learn the craft. But ask veterinarian and computer scientist Sarah Baillie and she will tell you that the purpose of the virtual cow is not that at all. In fact, it is there to make the experience a lot less painful for all the cattle on the planet.
Teaching a young veterinarian can be tough as instructors cannot exactly see what is happening on the inside. But now the virtual cow guarantees that the instructors know exactly what the student is doing and even the amount of pressure that is being applied during the procedure. ‘Virtual Bessie’ even Moos a bit when you apply pressure that is too high, just so that you know when to back off!
Much like how virtual reality is helping surgeons and doctors across the planet it seems it is now even helping animals and those who treat them. So what is next in line, you ask? Sarah Baillie is thinking of a Haptic Horse and a Haptic Cat…
