Messenger - Vol. 1, No. 3, Page 11
Spring 1992
Anatomy videodisc takes a gold

     Probably the next best thing to a laboratory experience, the
University's human anatomy videodisc won a gold medal in international
competition in January.
     Titled Dynamics of Human Anatomy, the interactive videodisc took
the top prize in the New York Film Festival's health and medical
information category. Second place went to Dartmouth Medical School.
     Under development for four years by faculty in the Department of
Physical Education and staff of the Instructional Technology Center,
the human anatomy program is designed to teach the muscular, skeletal,
cardiovascular and nervous systems to nursing, biology and physical
education students. In addition to an original motion video of cadaver
dissection, the program uses slides, computer animation, medical
illustrations and student-controlled graphic overlays.
     A few unusual production problems occurred during the creation of
the disc. A shortage of cadavers in Delaware made it necessary for the
faculty and filming crew to travel to Baltimore because it is illegal
to transport human bodies from one state to another. Finding a
complete skeleton on campus suitable for photography also proved
difficult, so bones from several unrelated skeletons were combined to
make a filmable creation. And blood vessels, arteries and nerves were
sometimes painted different colors to define their location in a
dissection.
     Spanning all four sides of two laser video discs, the program
represents approximately 15 student contact hours. Teachers can use
the disc in class, and students can look at it on their own for
review.
      Dynamics of Human Anatomy  was developed by David Barlow,
director of the University's Physical Education Program; Robert E.
Neeves and Keith Handling, associate professors of physical education;
and the Instructional Technology Center (ITC). It will be published by
Lea & Febiger Publishing Inc.
     "For some students, it will be supplemental. For others, it will
be as close as it gets," explains Kathleen Troutman, senior software
development analyst in ITC and project coordinator.
     Founded in 1957, the New York Film Festival international awards
competition was designed to reward outstanding achievements in
non-broadcast media. The festival includes competitions in such
diverse fields as television and cinema advertising, television and
radio programming, print advertising, design, photography and
illustration and music, home and interactive video.