The Ultimate Human Body 2.0 is a 3‐D Lab that introduces human anatomy in 3‐D, 2‐D, and X‐ray views. The opening screen is especially impressive, as a medical lab appears and the “camera” moves between three bodies placed on standing lab tables. The three bodies represent: 1) a systems scanner that provides the user with access to the 10 body systems and body organs, 2) a 3‐D scanner that allows the user to scan the human body through cutaway views and to turn the body 360 degrees for different viewing angles, and 3) an X‐ray scanner to see the body as viewed through an x‐ray machine.
A spinning globe of the planet Earth appears on the left side of the tables and represents access to the Body Online internet service, an Internet journal covering a wealth of health‐related subjects and issues. On the right side of the tables, the user can access a body quiz challenge of 15 questions related to the human body. Each correct answer moves the user down a silhouette of the human body from the brain to the feet via the circulation system.
Despite the impressive opening screen graphics, I was unimpressed with this product. No age range is given; but I think that it would be most appropriate for children ages 5‐12. It is surprisingly simple, given that it merely shows the human body in graphic detail in 3‐D and 2‐D views. Perhaps my opinion is also influenced by the fact that there is no user’s guide or instructions included with the CD.
The box containing the CD folds out into a short visual description of the product and provides a password to access the product’s Internet component. While the systems scanner and 3‐D scanner views of the human body were interesting, I found no use for the X‐ray scanner, as looking at the body via this method is pretty boring and unintelligible for the average person.
Instructions for booting the disc are given, but from there the user is on his/her own. The average person age 13 or higher would probably lose interest in this product after about 5 minutes.
