An interactive video disc system to teach human anatomy.
With restrictions on curriculum time, lack of anatomy teachers and teaching material, and the trend toward selfdirected learning, the exploitation of interactive disc technology seems well timed. A pilot disc on the anatomy of the eye, the first of a series called "The Anatomy Project" on the whole of human anatomy, has been used by medical students and FRCS candidates in small groups and in classes of more than 250 students on multiple monitors in the dissecting room. This disc has now been developed and programmed to run at six course levels and in four languages within each disc. It includes material specially prosected at the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as a wide range of histological and radiological imaging techniques, surface anatomy, and clinical material. The system incorporates self-testing, review, summary, glossary, and indexing facilities for student needs and can be completely reprogrammed by teachers individually. This paper will demonstrate the system's potential and solicit views on refinements as the project is developed.