Tablet based simulation provides a new solution to accessing laparoscopic skills training.

Aim: Access to facilities that allow trainees to develop their laparoscopic skills is very limited in the hospital environment and courses can be very expensive. We set out to build an inexpensive yet effective trainer to allow laparoscopic skill acquisition in the home or classroom environment based on using a tablet as a replacement for the laparoscopic stack and camera.

Methods: The cavity in which to train was made from a cardboard box; we left the sides and back open to allow for natural light to fill the cavity.