The Future of Simulation

5.20.2008 SPEAKERS: Bryan Bergeron, MD: President, Archetype Technologies, Inc. MODERATORS: Dan Hoch, MD: HMS, MGH

Forum Summary

A simulation can be defined as the use of a model to create a situation that a user would be unable to experience or interact with in real life.  In medicine, simulations are an important part of physician training, allowing doctors to practice procedures without the risk of killing somebody. 

Simulations have a long history in human society.  Some people argue that cave paintings of animals created around 20,000 B.C.E. were simulated hunts.  The first simulation in the modern sense of the word was an “airplane cockpit” that appeared in 1923.  Since the 1970s, simulations have become an increasingly common part of daily life.  Many are marketed to consumers as games, and many others are used for military purposes.  A number of different medical simulations have been created as well.  Some, such as mannequins on which surgeons can practice, involve extensive hardware.  Others, such as programs that allow doctors to look at avatars and ask them questions, involve extensive software.  At this point, graphics are no longer a challenge for the makers of simulations.  What makes creating realistic simulations tricky is the difficulty of writing the code that determines how the graphics should respond to user input.

When designing a simulation, it is important to define what the simulation is meant to teach.  Certain games, for example, simulate actions such as playing sports or musical instruments but do not teach people to do the real thing.  Simulations must be carefully designed to not include anything that will create a potentially confusing disconnect with reality. 

If the past is any indication, the future of simulation is unpredictable.  Revolutionary new technologies will emerge and change the field in ways that cannot be foreseen.  Simulations may become more invisible and begin to blend into everyday life.  Perhaps products will even be designed to allow users to create their own simulations.         

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