Integration of virtual reality and Support Vector Machines (SVM) in the clinical training of breast palpation

A breast palpation gesture is a technical hand gesture that requires a high level of proficiency and training. This article presents an intelligent, intuitive, affordable virtual environment for learning breast palpation. This innovative tool aims to enhance the training experience for healthcare professionals, students, and novices by providing a realistic and immersive platform for mastering this important clinical skill. It uses a Kinect user-friendly interface and Support Vector Machine (SVM) learning algorithm to recognize the user's gesture, supervise the learners, and avoid the expert's presence. The SVM performs a high recognition rate on the breast palpation gestures. The validation study attests to the satisfaction of users of different ages. The presented solution is cost-effective, utilizing Kinect interaction and adapted for widespread use.