BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- It was if the surgeon had another set of hands to help during surgery to replace a shoulder.

Floating ethereally over the surgeon's own hands, the hands guided and pointed as the surgeon worked the scalpel.

They were virtual hands from a doctor more than 100 miles away in Atlanta.

Using Google Glass, a wearable computer with head-mounted display, and using virtual technology developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brent Ponce performed a shoulder replacement surgery Sept. 12 at UAB Highlands Hospital, UAB announced today.

From Atlanta, Dr. Phani Dantuluri watched, talked and virtually placed his hands into the surgical field.

In conjunction with the Google Glass, the surgeons used VIPAAR, or Virtual Interactive Presence in Augmented Reality, a two-way, real-time interactive video conferencing technology developed by UAB.

According to an account by UAB media relations specialist Bob Shepard the VIPAAR technology allowed Dantuluri to see exactly what Ponce saw and virtually introduce his hands or instruments into the surgery -- "a merged-reality environment."

"It's not unlike the line marking a first down that a television broadcast adds to the screen while televising a football game," Ponce said. "You see the line, although it's not really on the field. Using VIPAAR, a remote surgeon is able to put his or her hands into the surgical field and provide collaboration and assistance."

UAB doctors say the technology allows a veteran surgeon to oversee and instruct in real time surgeries performed by less experienced physicians.

"It's real-time, real-life, right there, as opposed to a Skype or video conference call, which allows for dialogue back and forth but is not really interactive," Ponce said.