Virtual frog dissection software makes biology tolerable
By Layer 8 on Wed, 02/13/08 - 10:28pm.
If you were one of those folks who didn't really like to cut into frogs in biology class, you can easily relate with this software: V-Frog, virtual-reality-based frog dissection software.
V-Frog software simulates nearly unlimited manipulation of specimen tissue. Tactus Technologies developed the software which lets students, biologists or the just plain curious use a mouse to "pick up" a scalpel, cut open V-Frog's skin, and explore the internal organs - with real-time interaction and 3-D navigation that accommodates discovery and procedures not possible with a physical frog specimen, the company said.
V-Frog was in development for three years and allows for comparative anatomy, letting students make parallels and contrasts between the amphibian's physiology and that of a human being, crab and other organisms, Tactus said. In addition, V-Frog lets users watch a beating heart, observe digestion, dissect, probe and perform endoscopic procedures.
Tactus said V-Frog is a simulation product, not simply a static Web site and claims it is superior to physical specimens and multi-media representations. The technology allows for virtual surgery and the software's tissue simulation lets students see the correlation between form and function, and can be manipulated however the student wishes - without that nasty smell some real biology class frogs have.
The Humane Society of the United States, as well as educators, legislators, students and others, support the realization that the use of virtual reality frog dissection means no exposure to chemicals and potentially dangerous instruments, no specimen or ecosystem harm, and no specimen disintegration.
There are currently upwards of 6 million dissections performed annually in the United States,and as many as 20 million or more worldwide, according to Tactus.
California has approved V-Frog for legal and social compliance as per their State board of Education guidelines. It is also in the final stages of a similar review in New York State. V-Frog is being sold directly to individual schools, under a one-time licensing fee.
Prices start at $500 for a single school copy. Home version of the software can be purchased for about $100 at Amazon.com.
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