• A surgeon uses a virtual reality program to learn a new surgical procedure. Later the surgeon makes a critical mistake using the procedure on a patient. Is this a malpractice situation? Are there ethical and legal issues related to the use of VR in physician training?

• A teen-ager spends several hours a day immersed in virtual reality games. Her parents only know that “she is really good with computers.” At school, counselors report she is having difficulty differentiating reality from fantasy in her daily life. Are there ethical and psychological issues related to the use of VR by young people?

Reporters are invited to join a small group of distinguished scholars and researchers from around the country to ponder these and other questions related to the ethical implications of virtual reality and the impact the technology could have on our society. Discussions will take place in a symposium titled, “Ethical and Psychological Issues in Virtual Reality Technology,” Oct. 4-6 in the Media Union on the University of Michigan’s North Campus.

Symposium sessions and the small-group discussions that follow are not open to the general public, but will be open to members of the media. For additional information and a complete schedule of symposium sessions, call Theresa Hofer at (313) 647- 4709, contact her via e-mail to [email protected] or check the symposium’s Web page at http://www.itd.umich.edu/hotncool/vrsymp.html.

In conjunction with the symposium, commercial vendors will present displays and demonstrations of virtual reality hardware and software 12-5 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 4) and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) in the Media Union Gallery. These displays and demonstration are free and open to the general public.

U-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan