Is the Metaverse the New Frontier for Healthcare?
While it is not entirely built out, elements of the metaverse are being used in both medical training and procedures. As technology advances, the metaverse may offer the potential for significant advances in the field of medicine.
Current Metaverse Technologies in Use
Currently, the healthcare industry is utilizing some of the essential components that will ultimately comprise the metaverse, namely, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and artificial intelligence. As these technologies are built out, the medical industry will likely make greater use of them.
Virtual Training
AR and VR are being used extensively in medical training. Examples include:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is using AR to train COVID responders, including a training course on the proper techniques and sequences to put on and remove personal protective equipment.
- Medical schools are using AR and VR to train students to perform a wide range of surgical procedures.
- AR and VR allow for a 360-degree view of ailment, as well as the replication of real-life procedures.
AR and VR technologies may be used to create real-life situations, allowing students to perform virtual procedures without the risk of making mistakes on human subjects. It may allow the assemblance of students from far-flung locations to train in one virtual classroom.
Real-Life Procedures
AR and VR systems are being used for activities that support diagnoses and pre-surgical preparation and training. For example, using X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans can create an immersive virtual environment that allows a surgical team to devise the procedure before making the first incision and rehearse the surgery beforehand.
AR and VR technology is also being used to assist in surgical procedures. Such technology was used in June 2020 in when surgeons at Johns Hopkins used AR in a procedure that inserted six screws in a patient’s spine during a spinal fusion surgery. The surgeons used an AR headset with a see-through eye display that projected images of the patient’s internal anatomy. The surgeon described it as “having a GPS navigator in front of your eyes in a natural way so you don’t have to look at a separate screen to see your patient’s CT scans."
Medical Facility Design
AR and VR technology has been used when designing operating rooms. The technology allows visualization of all the people, equipment, and surgical setups for various procedures. This virtual process will allow for optimal design without the need of workers being physically present in the operating room.
Moving Forward
Metaverse technology will likely continue to improve. As such, the potential for its use in the medical field will also likely progress.
How may individuals gain exposure to the metaverse?
The Fount Metaverse ETF (MTVR)
The Fount Metaverse ETF seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, generally correspond to the performance of the Fount Metaverse Index. The index was designed to measure the performance of companies that develop, manufacture, distribute, or sell products related to metaverse technology.
MTVR may hold companies developing technologies that will be used in the medical industry.
MTVR may provide an attractive vehicle for individuals to gain exposure to the metaverse.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call 855-425-7426 or visit our website at www.fountetfs.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC. serves as the investment advisor to the Funds. The Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co., (SIDCO) 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456. SIDCO is not affiliated with Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC. or Fount Investment Co. Ltd.
Risk Disclosure:
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee the Funds will achieve their stated objectives. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve the risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, differences in generally accepted accounting principles, or social, economic, or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume.
The Funds’ concentration in an industry or sector can increase the impact of, and potential losses associated with, the risks from investing in those industries/sectors. For MTVR, the Fund may be concentrated in the entertainment and interactive media & services industries. The entertainment industry is highly competitive and relies on consumer spending and the availability of disposable income for success, which may cause the prices of the securities of companies to fluctuate widely. The prices of the securities of companies in the interactive media & services industry are closely tied to the overall economy's performance. Changes in general economic growth, consumer confidence, and consumer spending may affect them. MTVR may also be subject to the specific risks associated with metaverse companies. These risks include but are not limited to small or limited markets, changes in business cycles, world economic growth, technological progress, rapid obsolescence, and government regulation. Smaller, start-up companies tend to be more volatile than securities of companies that do not rely heavily on technology. Metaverse Companies may rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights. There can be no assurance that these steps will be adequate to prevent the misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not develop technologies that are equivalent or superior to such companies’ technology.
For SUBS, the Fund may be concentrated in the software industry. Technological changes, pricing, retaining skilled employees, changes in demand, research & development, and product obsolescence can affect the profitability of software companies causing fluctuations in the market price of company securities.
Both Funds are subject to communication services sector risk, which can involve the same risks as being concentrated in the software industry. Network security breaches, potential proprietary or consumer information theft, or service disruption can negatively affect companies’ stock prices.
The Funds are non-diversified. The Funds are new and have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate. New and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, investments in smaller companies typically exhibit higher volatility.
