Simulation is not a technology, but rather a set of techniques to replace or amplify real experiences with planned experiences, often immersive in nature, that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive fashion.

“Immersive” conveys the sense that participants have of being immersed in a task or setting as they would if it were the real world. While seamless immersion is not currently achievable, experience shows that participants in immersive simulations easily suspend disbelief and speak and act much as they do in their real jobs.

Simulation may use various modalities – with or without different kinds of technologies – to replicate key aspects of the real world. Some of the different types of simulation modalities include the following:

Standardized Patient Actors	Part-task Physical Trainers	Virtual Reality & Visualization	Desktop Simulation & Virtual Worlds	Mannequin-based Simulation