<!doctype html public «-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en»> http-equiv=content-type> Computer-assisted systems have long since penetrated the operating room. Their functions include pre and intraoperative imaging, image processing, modeling, simulation, navigation, and robotics. Computers help run the “surgical cockpit.” They are critical in pre- and intraoperative process optimization, workflow management, and for information integration in the surgical suite.