Virtual Worlds Forum

There's a clear upsurge of interest in Second Life and virtual worlds from the medical profession, from hospitals to healthcare charities. The latest to get involved is Cigna, which is launching a pilot virtual health project within Second Life.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants to 12 research teams examining the use of games and virtual worlds for public health initiatives.

The anonymity offered by virtual worlds is throwing up opportunities for the medical profession, particularly when it comes to encouraging patients to seek help or advice on ailments that they might be embarrassed about. The Spanish Society for Family and Community Medicine has launched a Second Life surgery targeting teenagers, for example.

The Palomar West Medical Campus isn't due to open until 2011 in San Diego, but a virtual version launched yesterday in Second Life. It's the result of a partnership between Cisco and virtual design agency Millions Of Us.