http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=A6E95B1!5"56!A#1$!A$%B"1&''''&9#(%Parachute troops leap into new virtual worldThe Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton recently opened a new virtual reality parachute trainer which uses the latest digital imagery to create a realistic virtual world in which to train Service personnel.The new trainer allows parachute students to be suspended by harnesses and wear virtual reality goggles to practise umps in a range o! realistic environments.http"##www.medgadget.com#$%&%#%'#virtual(reality(medical(simulator(being(adopted(by(du)e(medical(school.htmlDuke University School of Medicine is teaming up with Virtual Heroes, a software simulation company out of Raleigh, North Carolina, to utilize the frms HumanSim package as a tool for healthcare team communication training; medical device and pharma product education; patient education; medical recertifcation; clinical trial education; CME courses; and healthcare quality assurance training.http://www.cmdn.dundee.ac.uk/main!news/scot)and*E%*$"*99s!+rst!eye!sur,ery!simu)atorEyeSi virtual reality simulator for intraocular surgical training, with aninterface for cataract and other eye surgery.Funding of 150,000 was generously provided by the Speed!olloc"#emorial$esearch %rust, which focuses its funding on Scottish ophthalmicresearch and has supported pro&ects for over a decade.'(iththesimulator,traineescanbuildtheirconfidence and competence,)e*plains!rofessor+aroline#acEwenof the,niversityof -undee#edicalSchool and a +onsultant .phthalmologist at /inewells 0ospital. '%hey can dotheir first operations on the Eyesi and once they1ve mastered the s"ills, candeal with real patients.)http://www.siemens.com/innovation/apps/pof-microsite/-pof!fa))!%""9/-htm)-en/fused!rea)ities.htm) Siemens *orporate Research +S*R, in Princeton- New .ersey- a modi!ied Siemens */arm 0/ray system suitable !or use in operating rooms has been out!itted with a camera/mirror module that produces an optical image o! precisely the same area being imaged by 0/rays. 1n practical terms- what this means is that the surgeon ta)es one 0/ray o! the area in 2uestion- a!ter which the optical image is superimposed on the 0/ray image. The result is that the surgeon not only sees the area o! interest on a nearby monitor e3actly as it appears to the eye- but also sees the underlying anatomy in per!ect registration.http"##www.vrs.org.u)#virtual/reality/military#inde3.html.irtua) rea)ity has been adopted by the military 4 this includes all three services +army-navy and air !orce, 4 where it is used !or training purposes. This is particularly use!ul !or training soldiers !or combat situations or other dangerous settings where they have to learn how to react in an appropriate manner.A virtual reality simulation enables them to do so but without the ris) o! death or a serious inury. They can re/enact a particular scenario- !or e3ample engagement with anenemy in an environment in which they e3perience this but without the real world ris)s. This has proven to be sa!er and less costly than traditional training methods.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2070551/Cost-cutting-Royal-Nay-train-new-recruits-!"R#$%&-ships.html*omputer/based ship simulators provide a training environment !or learning s)ills to steer a ship. Training can be programmed to replicate a variety o! ship sizes and environmental conditions. Scenarios depicted in 5/6 graphics range !rom ma)ing course corrections in open waters to maneuvering in port- rivers- or other shallow waters. *ost compared to a real vessel is low. 7ariners learn responses to dangerous situations- such as steering !ailure- in the sa!ety o! a virtual environment.8and/based ship simulators may !eature a !ull/scale replica o! a steering stand with a ship9s wheel. Such simulators incorporate magnetic and gyro compasses +or repeaters, !or steering. 7oreover- a rudder angle indicator that responds appropriately to the helm is part o! the con!iguration.