Promotion of public health for Scotland
By using the latest interactive imaging techniques coupled with informative 2D and 3D imaging allows the opportunity to explain clearly and fluidly the complex nature of disease. Being able to explain openly to the general public that preventative care and precautions can be taken to reduce, minimize, control or avoid a range of potential diseases resulting from addictions, poor diet, weight loss/gain or levels of fitness can play a supportive role in both reducing potential problems in later life and to also raise awareness of lifestyle behaviours and their impact on health. The downstream implications of reducing the impact on the NHS could be potentially significant allowing Scotland to move up within the European health tables.

Training and anatomical teaching
Medicine has always been very difficult to teach and has required hours of concentrated immersion in heavy textbooks. With the emergence of the internet, medical teaching has changed completely and almost no didactic teaching is done in our medical schools today. The easiest way to learn a subject in medicine is to be able to see it. Digital Imaging has been able to transform the way we obtain and interpret X-rays and scans of our bodies. However, interpretation of these scans is still not easy and a surgeon operating on a patient still relies heavily on the expertise of a radiologist to show him/her the way.

Development of digital applications would restore teaching of anatomy to its former importance and most of all, it would be interactive (not inert), giving a more fluid and engaging means of investigating visually accurate 3D structures and processes. Coupled with informative animations demonstrating complex cellular biology and pathophysiological processes, this would be an unrivalled research and teaching tool capturing the imagination of doctor and lay person alike.

Surgical rehearsal and pre-operative planning
Digital prototyping and interaction with volumetric data in 3D with haptic devices is within our grasp. With sufficient funding, the ability to touch a virtual patient seconds after you have scanned the corresponding real patient for the data, to plan the management of the disease process, in particular surgical intervention, would be a reality within the next few years and has the possibility of worldwide application.

Interactive digital applications would build on what has already been achieved in virtual colonoscopy and computer aided pulmonary nodule detection to expand what is potentially the most exiting teaching tool and clinical aid within our immediate grasp.

Post care management
Through both 2D and 3D interactive imaging, fundamental information can be communicated clearly to the patient ranging from explanation of disease processes, degenerative condition or everyday surgical procedures, post care management and recovery regimes. Explanation of disease processes and routes to cure can have a positive profound impact on patient recovery terms.

Scotland is a world leader in medicine and medical innovation and through digital interactive imaging provides a golden opportunity to enhance that tremendously.