An article in today’s Wall Street Journal discusses how hospitals are using the consumer version of the online virtual reality game, “Second Life,” to train nurses, doctors and administrators in dealing with “what if” scenarios. If, as in other news out today, the U.S. actually does face a shortage of 150,000 doctors in the coming years, then watch for this type of training to become pervasive. A two minute video overview of the simulation is here (along with a 15 second obligatory commercial):

Last week in Davos, Switzerland a Hong Kong-based non-profit group called Crossroads Foundation, Ltd, created a role-play exercise for some of the world’s leading CEOs and government officials in which participants played the roles of refugees. At a global conference usually known for glitz and excess, it’s interesting to read about the one hour simulation that was held in a large concrete basement near the main conference center to build empathy in these leaders.

The basement was turned into a refugee camp with barbed wire, canvas tents, armed militia and a soundtrack of nearby explosions and crying children. Participants were put into total darkness and shoved around by the "militia." Feedback from the participants was positive, although some human rights pundits did think the exercise was gratuitous and in poor taste. We applaud the sponsors for creating a simulation – albeit temporary and small – that creates even the slightest bit of empathy toward the issues involved with refugee displacement.