1. A method comprising: placing a first physical object and a simulated scanner in contact with one another, the first physical object representing an object to be a subject of a simulated scan during an ultrasound simulation, the contact between the first physical object and simulated scanner established at least once during the simulation, wherein the simulated scanner is a second physical object; during the simulation, rendering a simulated ultrasound image of the first physical object based on a position of the simulated scanner during the simulation without the simulated scanner scanning the first physical object; while the first physical object and simulated scanner are in contact, detecting a change in position of the simulated scanner relative to a reference point using at least one sensing device and receiving a plurality of data values, wherein the change in position of the simulated scanner is caused by a movement of the first physical object occurring during the simulation; calculating, substantially in real-time, a plurality of image values based on the plurality of data values; and updating based on the plurality of image values at least a portion of the simulated ultrasound image of the first physical object, the plurality of data values associated with a polygonal model of the first physical object.