Abstract: A visualization system using a computer to provide a patient with a view of their internal anatomy based on medical scan data. The medical scan data is obtained from three-dimensional scanning system, such as Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI), Computer-Aided Tomography (CAT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The patient is presented with such data in an interactive virtual reality environment. The patient acts upon indications of the ailment within the virtual reality environment by using "tools" or other devices that produce a visual representation of the ailment being diminished in nature. This creates a psychoneuroimmunological response in the patient which aids the patient in combatting and recovering from the disease. Embodiments of the invention enhance the PNI response by providing more numerous and realistic sensory input in the form of, e.g., three-dimensional audio and high resolution volume rendering and animation.

Abstract: A local host computing system, a remote host computing system as connected by a network, and service functionalities: a human interface service functionality, a starter service functionality, and a desired utility service functionality, and a Client-Server-Service (CSS) model is imposed on each service functionality. In one embodiment, this results in nine logical components and three physical components (a local host, a remote host, and an intervening network), where two of the logical components are integrated into one Remote Object Client component, and that Remote Object Client component and the other seven logical components are deployed among the local host and remote host in a manner which eases compatibility and upgrade problems, and provides an illusion to a user that a desired utility service supported on a remote host resides locally on the user's local host, thereby providing ease of use and minimal software maintenance for users of that remote service.