Obvious jokes aside (I never have gotten over the name), a group based in the US has decided that using the Nintendo Wii can actually improve a surgeon’s performance in the operating theatre.  The Banner Good Samaritan Medical Centre team claim that the Wii games requiring the use of delicate movements can aid in precision scalpel and tool work when operating.

From here, Wii software is going to be designed that will accurately simulate surgical procedures -  reported New Scientist.  Eight trainee surgeons spent an hour playing games on the console before performing “virtual reality” surgery on a computer system.

Incredibly, those who used the Wii system scored nearly 50% higher on tool control and overall performance as compared t those who didn’t use it.  Frankly, if you were a patient, I’m pretty sure you’d want them to be playing prior to the operation!  This certainly leads to asking all sorts of questions of future training and applications for the Wii – something which I doubt Nintendo ever expected or hoped to imagine.

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