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Chapter One
Virtual Microscopy
1.1 Introduction
Virtual microscopy is a relatively new term; however, it has its origins in a
much older technology, that of Telemedicine (where Telepathology can be
considered to be a subdiscipline). A general definition of this process would
be the acquisition, storage and transmission of microscope images from a
local site to a remote site for a specific reason. The main reasons for this
were usually diagnostic, consultation or educational. The initial concept
was probably driven by researchers in disciplines outside those of pathology
or microscopy. Many believed that this was an example of a technology
looking for an application, and this hindered the widespread acceptance of
this technology.
The first telepathology system was developed in the United States in the
1960s when monochrome images were transmitted between locations via a
microwave link. However, it was not significantly explored and used until the
late 1980s with the advent of readily-available computer equipment. The
main problem for telepathology at this time was a general scepticism about
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