Book excerpt: In Computer-Integrated Surgery leading researchers and clinical practitioners describe the exciting new partnership that is being forged between surgeons and machines such as computers and robots, enabling them to perform certain skilled tasks better than either can do alone.The 19 chapters in part I, Technology, explore the components -- registration, basic tools for surgical planning, human-machine interfaces, robotic manipulators, safety -- that are the basis of computer-integrated surgery. These chapters provide essential background material needed to get up to speed on current work as well as a ready reference for those who are already active in the field.The 39 chapters in part II, Applications, cover eight clinical areas -- neurosurgery, orthopedics, eye surgery, dentistry, minimal access surgery, ENT surgery, craniofacial surgery, and radiotherapy -- with a concluding chapter on the high-tech operating room. Each section contains a brief introduction as well as at least one "requirements and opportunities" chapter written by a leading clinician in the area under discussion.