Establishing a Virtual Medical Worlds Community

The emerging European "Virtual Medical Worlds Community" (VMWC) is aimed at advancing the use of advanced technology in telemedical applications. The working group consists of European companies and academic groups who are active in high-performance computer networking (HPCN), databases, virtual reality (VR) and telemedicine, and academic groups and companies with business in telemedicine and other medical applications requiring these advanced techniques. The VMWC working group will bring together technology suppliers with users in this focused medical sector. The working group will stimulate exchange of information and expertise, and create awareness in the medical sector, thus advancing European industry in the above-mentioned areas. VMWC will organise workshops, technical meetings and a virtual community environment on the Internet for exchange amongst the members. For dissemination, VMWC will be present at major telemedical events, maintain the VMW Web site and support the VMW magazine and distribute it amongst its relations. VMWC will work closely together with and build upon related activities in other areas: Euromed, HOISe/Primeur and HPCnet. Euromed provides the standardization which is important for the emerging industry that will create the telemedical information society. HPCNet provides a platform for HPCN technology-related issues. The HOISe/Primeur consortium provides news and discussion platforms for the HPCN and telemedical sectors. VMWC will capitalize on these initiatives and bring together the activities in the relevant disciplines that contribute to telemedicine.