Opinion: How VR can help respond to the ‘3 Body Problem’ in global aid

Watching the Netflix series "3 Body Problem" was a revealing experience. Though presented as futuristic sci-fi, the show mirrors current global issues. Characters use standalone virtual reality headsets to simulate and respond to extraterrestrial challenges faced by the San Ti Ren, which are beings from another planet. These VR simulations immerse them in scenarios, heightening the urgency and horror, prompting the question: How far is this from our reality? If fictional characters can use VR to navigate extraterrestrial challenges, why cannot we use existing VR technologies to prepare our first responders for the real-world “three-body problem” of climate-driven disasters, conflicts, and pandemics? These issues collectively threaten planetary health, and today’s VR technology holds transformative potential in addressing these three global scourges of our time. VR stands out as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to these pressing issues. This technology is not new: Its roots trace back over 50 years to 1968 when American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull introduced the Sword of Damocles, the first head-mounted VR display. The technological strides from this rudimentary system to today’s sophisticated systems showcase a remarkable journey of innovation, expanding the boundaries of training and preparedness. “The true power of VR … lies in its ability to integrate diverse practices and systems into standardized training modules.” --— 1. Natural disasters One of the first problems simulated by the San Ti Ren in the series is natural disasters. Today’s VR technology can simulate scenarios with striking realism, allowing medical personnel to train in diverse and complex conditions without the risks associated with actual disaster zones. Immersive VR environments offer clinicians realistic and customizable disaster scenarios for developing, refining, and testing their skills in a controlled setting. These environments also provide automated trainee evaluation and instant feedback mechanisms, ensuring health care trainees immediately understand and learn from their mistakes. 2. Conflicts Much like the strategic confrontations in the “3 Body Problem” series, conflicts require careful navigation of technical and nontechnical challenges. The ethical complexities woven through the series' narrative mirror the moral decisions first responder teams face during emergencies in wars and forced migration. VR can train in technical skills and essential nontechnical skills such as communication, leadership, and ethical decision-making. Recent advancements in VR technology in health care features multiplayer options that promote these skills, essential for managing mass casualty incidents. These training modules prepare professionals for critical decisions in real-life scenarios. 3. Pandemics Pandemic preparedness, which has historically tested our international cooperation and resource management, is yet another problem that can benefit significantly from VR-enhanced training modules. VR technology can be deployed worldwide, ensuring high-quality training is accessible even in resource-limited settings. This universal accessibility could significantly elevate the global response standard in disaster situations, potentially saving thousands of lives by better preparing the teams on the ground. These modules can replicate the spread of a disease, allowing health care workers to visualize and react to dynamic changes in a pandemic’s progression. VR’s role in pandemic preparedness is analogous to humanity's preparation for the alien invasion in "3 Body Problem," where understanding and adaptation are key to survival. As health care leaders gathered at the 77th World Health Assembly in May, followed by a series of high-level meetings throughout the year, we have a unique opportunity to address the critical challenges of emergency medical responses on a global scale, including pandemic preparedness, conflicts, and climate change. VR can help prepare us to solve complex planetary problems These issues impact planetary health, requiring a concerted effort to transform the landscape of global health emergency preparedness and response. To address disaster settings, the World Health Organization and other international bodies must endorse and implement a comprehensive framework that integrates innovative strategies. The Netflix series serves as a reminder of the power of immersive experiences to affect perceptions and inspire action. Similarly, VR holds the potential to train and fundamentally transform how we respond to the challenges of planetary health. Just as the characters in the series solve complex problems with advanced technology, we too can leverage VR to prepare for and mitigate real-world crises, potentially improving global outcomes. The true power of VR, much like the collaborative efforts needed in the series, lies in its ability to integrate diverse practices and systems into standardized training modules. By creating interoperable platforms that allow different countries and disciplines to share insights and strategies, the series inspires with its narrative and serves as a call to action for leaders, policymakers, and technologists to invest in VR technologies. The question now is not if we can integrate these solutions but how quickly we can do so to safeguard and improve planetary health. As we face the interconnected threats of disasters, conflicts, and pandemics, it is important that we harness the power of VR technology. By doing so, we can ensure a prepared, resilient, and responsive global health workforce ready to tackle the scourges of our time.