The Digital Atlas of the Human Skeleton: Redux

Given pandemic times, the digital skeleton may be of some value to the current generation of students and faculty working from home. The application is a web based platform and it is freely available to the general public, students, and faculty.

Background. In 2001, the digital Atlas is a CD-ROM based learning tool developed by Dr. Sawchuk, at the time graduate student, Dr. Janet Padiak, and William Barek. The CD consists of a collection of digital photographs of an actual human skeleton in which the viewer can explore the human skeleton in an interactive environment.  The program offers a unique 3D view of the human skeleton and lets the individual examine each bone by rotating it on the screen and learning skeletal features and landmarks by a simple click of the mouse.  The dynamic program is a vital learning tool because the viewer has the rare opportunity to interact very closely with authentic human skeletons. The CD-ROM was presented as a teaching tool at CAPA, the major conference for Canadian scholars in the area of biology anthropology in 2001. It was positively reviewed in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology published in Oct of 2002 by Dr. R. Hoppa.

 

Technical Notes:

  1. Download the zipped file. Upzip the file by placing the software in a dedicated folder, say for example – DigitSkel.
  2. Look in your designated Folder for a subfolder – Atlas of Human Skelton. Then, look for file called start and click on it. The software will load momentarily. Use the escape key to exit the program.
  3. Unfortunately, this software will not work under the current Mac operating system.

 

Download the Atlas of a Human Skeleton:
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