[Virtual microscopy: first applications].

Only recently fast-paced developments in computer technology allowed for the digitization of complete histologic slides. The resulting virtual slides may be viewed via webbrowser by any number of pathologists or students independent of time and location. Usage of a virtual microscope simply requires a computer workstation with a fast internet connection, which opens this technology to a broad public. A virtual microscopy system consists of three components: acquisition, server and client. Such systems are under development by different commercial and academic bodies worldwide. We have developed a virtual microscope system called vMic (http://www.vmic.unibas.ch) which provides virtual slides of very high image quality. Several successfully held online slide seminars and a histology course for students in dentistry are freely accessible in the internet. With the commercial availability of ultra rapid and easy-to-use slide scanners and the fast improvements of technology virtual microscopy will offer many applications in teaching, research and diagnostics. Thanks to additional functionalities, real microscopes will most likely be replaced by computer workstations in a couple of years.