title: Simulated medical learning environments on the Internet.
abstract: Learning anatomy and surgical procedures requires both a conceptual understanding of three-dimensional anatomy and a hands-on manipulation of tools and tissue. Such virtual resources are not available widely, are expensive, and may be culturally disallowed. Simulation technology, using high-performance computers and graphics, permits realistic real-time display of anatomy. Haptics technology supports the ability to probe and feel this virtual anatomy through the use of virtual tools. The Internet permits world-wide access to resources. We have brought together high-performance servers and high-bandwidth communication using the Next Generation Internet and complex bimanual haptics to simulate a tool-based learning environment for wide use. This article presents the technologic basis of this environment and some evaluation of its use in the gross anatomy course at Stanford University.
authors.affiliation: SUMMIT, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5466, USA. Parvati.Dev@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Parvati
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dev
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senger
authors.forename: W Leroy
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
authors.forename: Sakti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waldron
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D020407:Internet