Bodyworks is an interactive information system designed to let you explore the system, structures, and functions of the human body ‐ the ultimate machine. Information is presented through video, text, pictures and animation. The system allows you to move from one item to another in any way you like to investigate the area of the body that interests you.
Installation of Bodyworks, as with most Macintosh programs, was quite simple. To install, you place the CD in your drive, double‐click the Bodyworks icon, double‐click the installer icon and then drag it onto your hard disk. After the installation, you need to restart your computer. Since this program runs off the CD, you do not tie up large amounts of hard drive space. You are then free to begin your journey into the human body.
The opening screen is divided into four main areas, the picture view box, the item list, the text box, and the control buttons. A menu bar at the top of the screen provides access to the functions which let you control your session. In some sessions there is a button which takes you to the 3D view and another one which allows you to watch a relevant QuickTime Movie.
The picture view box is the main window for selection. The picture shown at the left of the screen is sensitive to mouse clicking; clicking on different parts of this picture change the text and associated topic items on the right. Clicking on the ribs for example will bring up associated topics related to the ribs. If there is a Dr. Body Works movie associated with the picture, a button will appear in the lower right corner of the picture. Clicking on this will open the associated movie. Picking an item from the item list will hyperlink to the topic with a new screen where you can then navigate further. Navigation from this screen is quite simple, somewhat analogous to navigation in Netscape. It is also quite easy to “layer” your journey with this approach, by selecting a topic and then moving into the body like a surgeon, cutting away the layers.
Control buttons are located directly above the item list section. These give instant access to the skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, lymphatic, and genitourinary systems, as well as health fitness and living. These are all well developed with the exception of the health and living section which was fairly simplistic. These buttons offer a quick method to jump from one body system to another. Once into the new system, you again see the familiar screen you started with.
Other interesting and useful features includes a medical dictionary with more than 1900 technical terms which Bodyworks will even pronounce. The computer voices are somewhat difficult to understand; but you can select from several, one of which you may be able to comprehend. There is also a medical records section which allows up to 50 users to input and store medical records.
A somewhat fun section of Bodyworks is the Dr. Bodyworks animated lecture series. Each of these 4 minute lectures covers a different body section and is intended as a review to the section previously studied. College students may appreciate the “Star Trek” like animation; and the lectures are somewhat useful. Somewhat less useful, but fun nonetheless, is the “Body Basics” interactive quiz show that can be played by one or two contestants. If anything else, this can help make learning anatomy fun and provide a student with a novel approach to learning. The documentation is quite adequate, although the screen images used for some of the screen shots are a bit out of focus.
In summary, Bodyworks 5.0 is a quality CD which teaches anatomy in an entertaining fashion but still impresses with its authority. Navigation is quite easy, and while you are moving around, there is soothing music which you may turn off to help you concentrate. While not a substitute for classroom study, it would be a welcome addition to any library or biology department as a supplement to classroom instruction.
