Teaching radiology on the Internet

The internet is a worldwide network estimated to connect 2.3 million computers in 130 countries and more than 30 million individual users [1]. Its rapid growth, estimated at 2 million new users per month, is matched by the degree of fervent media hype surrounding it. Nevertheless, the traditional strength of the internet is in the academic world, and almost all universities in the UK are connected. There is under development a high speed computer network to connect all NHS hospitals, and internet access may be one benefit from this. Anyone with a personal computer and a modem can connect to the internet from their workplace or home today for the price of a local phone call and a small fee (typically pound 15 per month in the UK) via a number of internet service providers.