Google launches Interactive Body Browser

Google (Mountain View, CA, USA) has released an in-browser anatomy viewer that utilized the three-dimensional graphics capabilities of the Chrome operating system.

The Google Body Browser is a website that allows the user to explore the human body in a fashion similar to that used in the Google Earth application. Individual anatomic layers, such as skin, muscles, bones, etc., can be selected or deselected for viewing, but can also be made semitransparent on an individual level. Labels for anatomic features can be displayed, and all anatomy is fully searchable, allowing zooming in and navigation to other parts of the body. A single click is used to identify anatomy. Scenes can be shared by copying and pasting the corresponding URL to others. Currently only a female version is available.

To access the system the web browser used must be capable of enabling WebGL, a technique that enables 3D graphics within a web browser without the use of additional plug-ins. Chrome 9 Dev Channel, Chrome Canary Build, and Firefox 4 beta have this enabled by default. In Chrome 8 (the current stable version of the Google browser), WebGL can be enabled by entering about:flags in the address bar; the webpage will then allow WebGL to be activated.

Related Links:
Google
Google Body Browser
Google Earth