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RH104 MULTIMODAL ESSAY
RH104 MULTIMODAL ESSAY

Part 1.

Setting the scene.

Imagine the scene: you open your eyes after an eight-hour-long surgery to the hums of machinery. Your eyes adjust to the bright lights in the recovery room. “The surgery was successful…” a soothing but monotone voice says just as soon as you’ve come to your senses. You look around to see that you’re surrounded with sophisticated machinery. Robotic arms carefully adjust your bed position, providing you comfort. The robot voice continues to update you on how well the surgery went, and explains how there is going to be very little recovery time. This information makes you feel optimistic.


The rapid advancements of technology and AI have made breakthroughs in the healthcare industry, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. From robotic surgeries to AI applications like Cyto-AiSCAN for cancer detection, technological advancements are paving the way for a more efficient healthcare system. Technology has continued to make healthcare more accessible, this can be seen through applications like Halodoc in Indonesia. The increased use of AI and technology introduces new possibilities within the healthcare industry, such as an increase in efficiency, increased accessibility and the possibility of better outcomes.

Image of the da Vinci robot (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic), Forbes

Technological advancements play a crucial role in the healthcare industry. The viral video of a “grape surgery” ressurged on social media a couple years ago. The video shows robotic arms performing surgery on a grape, carefully stitching its flesh. The robot in the viral video is called the “da Vinci Surgical System”, a surgical robot that has conducted over 5,000 surgeries. The recent developments in robotics have shown that robotic arms could be the future’s main form of surgery as robotic arms have the ability to “mimic the surgeon’s hands but with more precise movements and better magnification.” The robot can make precise stitches and is assisted by a surgeon, increasing accuracy and efficiency. The surgical system was created to operate on patients who need kidney or prostate surgeries. 

According to Dr. Scott Eggener, “robotic surgeries are less invasive, there’s less blood loss and it requires less pain medication.” Robotic surgery is more common now since the viral “grape surgery” video was released in 2010. According to the National Library of Medicine, “the use of robotic surgery for all general surgery procedures increased from 1.8% to 15.1% from 2012 to 2018.” The increased use of robotic surgery after the da Vinci robot’s viral video shows how it brought to light the robotic capability to advance healthcare, bringing the resurgence of using AI and robotics in the healthcare industry and increasing demand for robotic surgery. This highlights how technological advancements have taken over the healthcare industry for the better. These breakthroughs in technology can make healthcare more efficient than it has ever been.

Part 2.

The grape.

The possibility of robotic surgery

The use of AI has had “a positive impact on the quality of medicine improving accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in all aspects.” Technology has always been crucial in the development of medical practices. The advancements in healthcare have always relied on the advancements of technology. Technology such as the MRI or CT scan allows doctors to make better-informed decisions when diagnosing patients. An interesting story of AI advancing healthcare is the story of the Cyto-AiSCAN in 2017. It started as an AI called BakeryScan and was used to distinguish pastries, but a doctor noticed that “the pastries being scanned by the device were remarkably similar to the cancer cells he had been studying” and now a specialized version of the software is being used to identify cancerous cells. Technological advancements have always been paired with healthcare to treat patients better. Advancements in artificial intelligence have paved the way for a better healthcare system. 

Part 3.

The bakery.

An example of the possibilities of AI on the health industry

Video of the Bakery Scan, Youtube, 株式会社ブレイン

Part 4.

The app.

Technology further improves the healthcare industry by allowing easier access to healthcare. Halodoc is an Indonesian mobile app that connects users to medical facilities and practitioners improving the accessibility to healthcare within Indonesia. Halodoc’s mass use in Indonesia allowed the country to become “ranked 3rd globally in utilizing health apps.” In a world where everything is becoming digitized, Halodoc’s digital health ecosystem makes healthcare across Indonesia’s thousands of islands much more accessible. Halodoc’s ability to connect Indonesian citizens to healthcare systems allowed it to become one of Indonesia’s leading COVID-19 vaccine facilitators. This highlights how technology plays a crucial role in making healthcare accessible.

So what does this look like in the future? Advancements in robotics and AI allow for risky surgical procedures to become more accessible to the public. Certain surgical operations are not easily accessible due to location limitations, but the introduction of remote surgery or telesurgery/remote surgery solves this problem. The idea behind telesurgery is that a surgeon can operate on a patient in a different location by using robotics. This technology makes surgery more accessible and saves traveling costs for patients. However, many limitations must be overcome before telesurgery can be used in mainstream healthcare. There still is research and optimization necessary to ensure maximum safety. There are also “Funding issues” and “difficulty of the acquisition of equipment” that prevent telesurgery from being conducted. With the recent resurgence of robotics in surgical procedures brought on by the viral da Vinci robot, telesurgery may become accessible to the public in the near future. Although much research, optimization, and funding are needed, this process could be accelerated due to the increased demand for robotics in surgery. 

Over the last decade, we have seen healthcare advance rapidly through technology and artificial intelligence. Various technological innovations have positively impacted the healthcare industry. The da Vinci Surgical System brought to light the possibilities of robotic technology in the healthcare industry. Our world has become increasingly dependent on technology, but this translates to good things for the healthcare industry. Technology and AI have made healthcare more efficient and accessible.


Part 5.

The future.

Bibliography.

Aldita, Bella, and Lizar Alfansi. “Intention to Use Halodoc E-Health Services in Indonesia.” Frontiers in Business and Economics 2, August 31, 2023. 117-125. https://doi.org/10.56225/finbe.v2i2.226.

Carlton, Kat. “They Did Surgery on a Grape, and We Did a Q&a With a Surgeon About It.” UChicago Medicine, November 29, 2018. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/surgery-articles/2018/november/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-and-we-did-a-q-and-a-with-a-surgeon-about-it. Choi, Paul J, Rod J Oskouian, and R. Shane Tubbs. “Telesurgery: Past, Present, and Future.” Curēus, May 31, 2018. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.2716.

Lee, Bruce Y. “They Did Surgery On A Grape: What Is This New Viral Meme?”Forbes, December 3, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/12/02/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-what-is-this-new-viral-meme/

Neese, Tyler. “From Croissants to Cancer: The Unlikely Story of an Innovative AI Solution.” Breaking Cancer News, February 6, 2024. https://breakingcancernews.com/2024/02/06/from-croissants-to-cancer-the-unlikely-story-of-an-innovative-ai-solution-and-the-insights-it-offers-for-the-future/.

Rahman, Ashrafur et al. “Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology in Healthcare Sector: A Critical Evaluation of Both Sides of the Coin.” Clinical Pathology 17, January 1, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/2632010x241226887.

Sheetz, Kyle H., Jake Claflin, and Justin B. Dimick. “Trends in the Adoption of Robotic Surgery for Common Surgical Procedures.” JAMA Network Open 3, January 10, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.18911. 


Non-textual bibliography.

All animations are original, inspired by “surgery on a grape” meme.

株式会社ブレイン. “BakeryScan -Identify all pastries in a flash!-” Youtube, December 24, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTwxKXokVB8&t=8s

Keith Srakocic. “Pictured here is the da Vinci Surgical Robot.” Forbes, December 3, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/12/02/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-what-is-this-new-viral-meme/