Component-based networking for simulations in medical education

For the purpose of medical education, our research team is creating LINDSAY, a 3-dimensional, interactive computer model of male and female anatomy and physiology. As part of the LINDSAY—Virtual Human project, we have developed a component-based computational framework that allows the utilization of various formal representations, computation engines and visualization technologies within a single simulation context. For our agent-based simulations, the graphics, physics and behaviours of our interacting entities are implemented through a set of component engines. We have developed a light-weight client/server component, which spreads its siblings in the system´s component hierarchy over a wireless or wired network infrastructure. In this paper we demonstrate how our client/server component paves new ways for organizing, generating, computing and presenting educational contents.