Whats next for virtual microscopy – for example, future applications and forthcoming improvements in the technology?
ANSWER – The term virtual microscopy is used in different contexts. In one context the term virtual microscopy refers to interactive microscope simulators which are graphical representations of a microscope whose settings can be altered to simulate what would happen to an image when the settings of a real microscope were changed. This type of virtual microscope can be a very useful as a learning tool. Good examples of this type of virtual microscope can be found on the Florida State University website. A different type of Virtual microscopy is a rapidly developing tool which is set to make a big impact in the laboratory. In this context a virtual microscopy is a means of creating and then viewing a virtual slide (sometimes called a digital slide) over a computer network or on the screen of a stand alone computer using special virtual slide viewer software. It is the virtual or digital slide which is the key enabling component of a virtual microscopy system. The virtual slide is a very
