Pioneers of games technologies and digital healthcare will be revealing the future of medical simulation to manufacturers at an interactive conference on 7 June 2011.

Life Science specialists MedilinkWM are hosting an eye-opening conference, 'Making it Real' at the Centennial Centre in Birmingham, to explore the commercial opportunities that exist in the rapidly expanding field of medical simulation.

From surgery to diagnosis, simulation removes the need for medics and clinicans to learn and practice on real patients. As new technologies like augmented reality, haptics and digital mannequins make simulation increasingly realistic, its importance to the NHS and the global healthcare market increases. Sir Liam Donaldson, England's chief medical officer has already called for more simulation training in the NHS "to reduce errors and make surgery much safer".

Speaking to an audience of manufacturers, electronics engineers, games developers and materials suppliers, Mary Matthews, from Blitz Games will reveal all about a game they developed for the US defence department. Dominic Cushnan from Mixed Reality Studio will be looking at the potential for augmented reality, while Gary Todd of UK Haptics will demonstrate how haptic devices can allow people to interact with and explore virtual environments using their sense of touch. 

Bob Stone from the University of Birmingham will be looking at the importance of incorporating human factors into the design of simulations, and UHB's Kesavapill Subramonian will be asking whether surgical devices could be enhanced to provide realistic training experiences, real-time feedback and evaluation. Jonathan Stewart from the Hollier Simulation Centre will call for increasingly realistic digital mannequins, which can simulate much more complex scenarios, from deformaties and obesity to bad breath and wheezing.

MedilinkWM's connectivity director Chris Dyke said: "For too long, the research and development of medical simulation has been seen as the domain of universities, but with significant global investment going into medical simulation, we can see some big commercial opportunities are already opening up for medical device manufacturers. Medical simulation is a big priority in Dubai, the US and of course, here in the UK. 

"We have seen three new NHS training centres opening in the West Midlands in just one year, and the NHS is developing a new strategy for simulation based training in order to improve training and care. With 287,000 students currently undertaking a professional medical course, there is a waiting market for new simulation products.

"During this conference, we'll be looking at how role play can be used by developers to create realistic human reactions in virtual reality, and how multiple signs, triggers and simulations can create a realistically complex scenario. And delegates will get the chance to try their hand at some of the simulations too!"

More information and online booking can be found at www.MedilinkWM.co.uk/making-it-real