Implementing perception-action coupling for laparoscopy

This chapter discusses implementation aiming at restoring perception-action coupling with respect to visual information by linking the point of observation or the point of illumination directly to the head movements of the surgeon. This restores the perception-action coupling and allows the surgeon to obtain spatial information through exploration. However, two problems arise. First, manipulation and making explorative movements conflict with each other. Although observation tasks do invite the observer to move, manipulation tasks, for example, putting a wire through the eye of a needle, do not. Second, there are technical constraints such as size and shape; for example, the mechanism must be small enough to be used during laparoscopy, or the mechanism may not harm the patient. Implementation aimed at restoring perception-action coupling during laparoscopy is explored within the framework of the ecological approach to visual perception as described by Gibson (1979)