December 15, 2010

Google Body Browser

Google has recently demoed an interesting WebGL application called Body Browser, which lets you explore the human body just like you can explore the world in Google Earth. Now you can try Google Body Browser before it's added to Google Labs, assuming that you have a WebGL-enabled browser:

* WebGL is available, but not enabled by default in Chrome 8 (the latest stable version). Type about:flags in the address bar, click "Enable" next to "WebGL" and then click on "Restart now". Please note that this is an experimental feature in Chrome 8.
* WebGL is enabled by default in Chrome 9 Beta, Chrome 9 Dev Channel, Chrome Canary Build and Firefox 4 beta.




Damon Hernandez was surprised to notice that the application doesn't require a plugin. "Unlike other web based medical applications I have seen, no Flash, Java, or other plugins are needed. This application will run on any WebGL supported browser. (...) Last year I got the opportunity to work on an open standards based web3D medical app for learning the bones of the body. After witnessing how that app really helped students learn the bones, I am sold on using web3D for medical education."

Here's Google's demo:



{ Thanks, Juuso. }

120 comments:

  1. Not working for me on a Chromium dev build on XP SP2.

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  2. Really impressive. It works fine on Chrome Canary Build 10.0.611.0.

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  3. That's one of the most impressive things I've seen in a browser. Work's fine in Firefox 4 beta

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  4. Wow, this is certainly something very interesting that this anatomy instructor will need to keep an eye on! Now if only my application for the Cr-48 Chrome Notebook get accepted!

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  5. I have Google Chrome Beta 8.0552.224 this doesn't work. Google can do the same for other animals will be very useful for colleges, maybe reduce dissection and save animals.

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  6. does not work at all for me with Firefox 4 beta.

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  7. So it tells me I need the DEv build. Fine. Then it takes me to landing page (in English), then it takes me to a French EULA (ignoring all my English language settings) and then uses a French UI to download the new build.

    Then it tells me I can't install it because it's the same as what I have installed. Except I don't have a dev build installed, and never have. Merde.

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  8. If you use Windows, try the Canary build. The main advantage is that it doesn't overwrite your existing Chrome installation.

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  9. What part of it doesn't work in Firefox 4 Beta?
    I'm running a nightly (the closest thing to Beta 8) and it seems to work fine.
    I don't have a Chrome beta to compare it to.

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  10. If you're using Chrome beta or dev, remember to enable GPU accelerated compsiting from the "about:flags" page.

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  11. Thanks a lot MrNerd.

    One should do the following to make this work:

    1) Download Canary Build (http://tools.google.com/dlpage/chromesxs)
    2) Type "about:flags" in URL and enable both "WebGL" and "GPU Accelerated Computing" and restart the browser.

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  12. I'm so disappointed. I don't know what to say.

    Guys, you just set us back forty years ago.
    Why can't we search or see sexual organs ?
    Have you the slightest idea of how many years it take to allow people to learn about their full anatomie ?

    Block that from instant search is fine but take that out of a scientific application is just unacceptable. Political correctness must have limit and should never be mixed with science.

    Shame on you.

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  13. Well, actually, shame on me, organs are not there, only muscles and bones.
    Accept my humble excuses and remove my comment.
    I won't do it again.

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  14. No offense, anonymous, but the sexual organs are partially made of or mix with muscles.

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  15. Is it amazing that Google keeps providing some good free stuff! I am just glad that I don't need to spend money to buy a book or download a $4.99 ipad app to show my boy of how body function. Thanks Google!

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  16. Not working on Chromium 8.0.552.224 WebGL enabled XP SP2

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  17. Is it planned to add additional layers into the system?May be users layers.
    It would be really nice to have for example accupuncture points layer, meridians layer, and some other ideas appear in mind.

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  18. "Unlike other web based medical applications I have seen, no Flash, Java, or other plugins are needed."
    It doesn't, but you need to download an entire special browser. I don't think i can call it a web page.

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  19. Nice. Some of the muscles are showing up as black though -- namely the facial mm, glutes, and iliocostalis. Missing some structures too -- pharyngeal mm among others. Also, there is a frontalis m, but no occipitalis m -- granted the same mm, but it is common practice to represent both names. Love the fact you can see the path of the cranial nn. This has great potential.

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  20. I tried using Canary Build and also tried just enabling the WebGL on my existing Chrome browser, but neither are working for me. The page almost loads, shows the slide-bar on the side, then gives me a blank screen. Any tips?

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  21. It's not working for me in Firefox 4.0b7 with webgl enabled.

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  22. OK, I guess it does not work because my graphics card (Intel GMA 3000) does not support OpenGL 2.1, but only OpenGL 1.4. So nothing's wrong with Firefox Beta or Body Browser.

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  23. An anatomy model with clothes? I hope that's fixed in the next version.
    I like the speed, but I need more details and Latin nomenclature would be great.

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  24. Thanks for the include! Expect more at my blog http://bit.ly/hkXIGz.

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  25. Great, now I can go back and finish the many Biology courses I skipped out on in favor of my chosen major.

    I'm amused by the outrage over Google's "political correctness." I imagine the team figured most people are pretty familiar with the "sexual parts" or can find plenty of other "demos" if they're that put out about it . . .

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  26. what is the procedure for google body brower..please anybody give the steps.

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  27. It's simply fantastic and very usefull tool!!!
    Bravo Google...

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  28. wow.. Great Application from Google.
    yes i like it.

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  29. i'm using firefox 4 beta 7. i see only "welcome to body browser" and four little pictures. Can't activate something =(
    will try it again on my game-computer ;-)

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  30. Good job Google
    Alawi

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  31. I like it, it's quite good...

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  32. I am using Firefox 4.0b7. When I click on "try Google Body Browser" I get a page that says I need "To use Body Browser, you'll need a Web browser with WebGL support. Click here to get the new Google Chrome beta, or visit khronos.org for more choices." But above it says that "* WebGL is enabled by default in Chrome 9 Beta, Chrome 9 Dev Channel, Chrome Canary Build and Firefox 4 beta." I checked "khronos.org" and "webgl.enabled_for_all_sites" is already set to true so I made no change. Suggestions?

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  33. Body Browser works in Firefox 4's latest beta version. Did you try some other WebGL apps: http://www.chromeexperiments.com/webgl ?

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  34. PLEASE make the clothes optional.

    This could be useful for artists. Need to see the skin. Also, a male option would be good too.

    Also, it would be cool to be able to make the skin and fat layers thicker or thinner, so as to put the muscles under the (visible) skin in to greater relief: to see them as you would see them on a real human.

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    Replies
    1. There is a male option. Top menu item selects male or female. Female is default.

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  35. Needs a cross-section plane tool.

    Any way to grab this and get it into Sketchup?

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  36. It's as if they got a hold of PAL 2.0 and decided to release this right before Pearson released PAL 3.0 to give the academic industry one more push from behind.

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  37. Re: "It's as if they got a hold of PAL 2.0 and decided to release this right before Pearson released PAL 3.0 to give the academic industry one more push from behind."

    Google really isn't attempting to hide which industry they seek to dominate next, are they?

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  38. It is a pretty useful tool. However I think it needs some improvements: first of all you can't have a good image of the inside of the brain: the hippocampus and others...you can only click on them if you zoom very much but you can't have a good ansamble view..maybe you could include a separate 3d model for the different systems or for more complex parts of the body. then it is really a...let's say bad thing...the lack of sexual organs...in the end they're part of the human body and there are organs, nerves and muscles missing from the model, so it isn't completely accurate.

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  39. In firefox 4 beta 7 and Chrome Canary I see "welcome to body browser" + four little pictures. Doesn't work any of these.

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  40. Definately needs improvement. Add all the organs, some physiology, and let the user have more options - then it may be USEFUL (not neat) to people above the 11th grade. Very dissapointed, however accept it as google's first attempt.

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  41. i downnloaded chrome beta so I could see this but the page doesn't respond. Could it be because of my graphics card? i have older (5yrs) dell.

    thanks.

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  42. i have Chrome 10 and it doesn't work. any idea about?

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  43. no puedo entrar ¿como es la pagina?

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  44. Add latin nomenclature and it's the best anatomy model ever made.

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  45. It works great with google chrome (9.0.597.19 beta)on linux (fedora 12).
    It does not work with firefox 4.0b7, everything shows up in black!

    Would be nice if I could select dutch or latin nomenclature.
    Great work google!!

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  46. Not working on Windows7 with Firefox 4.0b7.

    checked if WebGL was "on" = true. But doesn't work, any suggestions?

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  47. DISABLE CLOTHES

    Just enter "javascript:Oh.skin.drawGroups.pop()" in the address bar and the clothes will disappear

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  48. same here, not working for me, i am using chrome and has enabled WebGL,

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  49. this very super this like a original body

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  50. Can't seem to make it work on Firefox 4 beta, Windows 7, ATI Mobility Radeon 4650. So disappointed...

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  51. not work for me i have the last firefox beta??

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  52. If it doesn't work, you probably have an old computer, a poor graphics card or an outdated operating system.

    From learningwebgl.com:

    "If you have a reasonably recent ATI or Nvidia graphics card, you should be fine. If you have an Intel graphics chipset (common in laptops) then things are less good. The drivers that Intel provides for their graphics hardware don't support OpenGL very well, and right now the WebGL support in browsers works through OpenGL."

    Try this software to find the OpenGL version supported by your graphics card. The minimum version required is OpenGL 2.0.

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  53. Doesn't work with either Firefox or Chrome.

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  54. It's not working for me in Firefox 4.0b7 with webgl enabled.

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  55. graphics card needed without that the browser will not open

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  56. Download google chrome canary build it works perfect GUARENTEED

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  57. Works on google chrome canary build GARUNTEED

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  58. doesn't work in firefox 4 -
    just able to see the left side bar and no image

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  59. It needs more detail to be really useful to medical students. Anatomy students have to learn more than just the name of a bone, we have to learn the names of the different parts of each bone too! Every little lump and bump, groove, articulating surface etc of every bone has a name which medical students have to learn. We need to know the insides of every organ too, the various parts of the brain, liver, kidney, the lobes and bronchioles of the lungs, the chambers of the heart. I look forward to Google adding enough detail to make it useful for medical students and the like, rather than the current product which is chiefly going to be of value to school students and curious lay people.

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  60. not working for me either in firefox 4.0b. Help me

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  61. Just an update: it did not work with Firefox 4b7, but works fine (although slowly on my PC: 1GB RAM, Intel GMA 3000) with Firefox 4b8.

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  62. The larynx is labelled as pharynx, think that should be corrected.

    Also, it would be nice if it was more detailed like landmarks on the bones and viscera.

    A cross sectional view would also be great. For example if I could section it at any level rather than just looking at it from the outside, it would have been great.

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  63. Hey i guess that most be just perfect for medicine and health care students but has not worked for me with mozilla firefox 4 beta
    could somebody tell me please why?
    i have windows xp i dont know if it´s necessary to have vista or 7 please help meeeeeeeeeeeee

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  64. To get the Body Browser to work, you will need to download the separate Google Chrome Canary Build (nightly updates). Once you install it, you go back to the BodyBrowser.GoogleLabs.com page and it will automatically load the body for browsing with a navigation palette. To get the Canary Build, go to the Canary Build page of this blog. http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/07/google-chrome-canary-build.html

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  65. The Chrome 9 beta and Firefox 4 beta does not work with the Body Browser as it says on the page. Download the Canary Build of Chrome and it will work. http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/07/google-chrome-canary-build.html

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  66. @Anonymous:

    It's a temporary issue. WebGL has been disabled in the latest beta build ( 9.0.597.45). You can manually add "--enable-accelerated-compositing --enable-webgl" to a Chrome shortcut's target field or wait until the issue is fixed in an upcoming build. You can also install a previous build, switch to the Dev channel, install Chrome Canary or Chromium.

    Firefox 4 supports WebGL and you should be able to load Body Browser. If it doesn't work, then there's an incompatibility with the graphics card.

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  67. Body Browser used to work for me on old version of google chrome beta but after an update it said i dont have a WebGL enabled browser and the ability to enable webGL is not in the 'about:flags' page...

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  68. I installed beta 9 The Chrome 9.0.597.45.
    I activated the accelerated-compositing (about: flags / GPU Accelerated compositing = enable).
    Do not go!
    I installed the latest version of Canary chrome.
    Still no go!?
    I am totally disappointed and I do not know what to do.

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  69. Was wondering if there was a way to enhance the spinalis, semi-spinalis muscles (deep to the trapezius)without clicking on them individually. A feature that would let you omit major muscles (Pec. M., Trapezius, Lat. dorsi) to look at deeper muscles would be an amazing addition. Overall this is an amazing project, and I hope that it's development is pursued. Very good work Google

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  70. Compare this to Body Browser.
    For a limited time you may download FREE VERSIONs of "Muscle and Motion" and " All About Strength Training" interactive human anatomy software. These software packages are of great value to both medical students and training enthusiasts. The amazing animations are so professional that it is worthwhile viewing them even if you are not an anatomy fan.

    "Muscle and Motion" makes studying Anatomy easy and enjoyable. Watch 3D muscles in motion. "Muscle and Motion" is a dynamic visual resource that makes musculoskeletal anatomy and Kinesiology easier to learn and understand. By seeing the actual muscles in motion, the brain processes the information in a way that makes it easier to remember and is guaranteed to increase your understanding and grades. There are more than 1,000 unique animations and video clips of the muscular system, skeletal system kinesiology and anatomy of movement.

    "All About Strength Training" presents proper strength training exercise techniques inside and out in 3D. This software is an exercise encyclopedia and a visualization tool of 3D musculoskeletal anatomy and strength training. "All About Strength Training" provides over 250 strength exercise videos with an anatomical analysis of each exercise. This software is an interactive 3D anatomy of the muscular and skeletal system with kinesiology analysis of body movements. The software is of utmost importance to all those interested in strength and endurance workout theory, programs and methods, describing exercise physiology with unique animations.

    To take advantage of this offer visit: http://www.muscleandmotion.com/freeversion.aspx

    If this offer is of interest to you, then pass it on to a fellow student or a trainer. Let me know what you think.

    Yours,
    Jonathan Swift

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  71. not working at all.Any one help me.

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  72. Can any one tell how to install google body browser step by step ?

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  73. Hi,

    Just wanted to say that body browser works on my laptop, but of the 2 webgl supported browsers I can only access it from google chrome 9, but on firefox 4 beta 11 I can only access body browser page but I cannot see any body figure or body part, just the side bar, the send feedback link and the search tool. The mouse pointer gets a crosshair aspect and that's it. Hope this description will shed some light on this issue.

    Cheers

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  74. Where's the male model?

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  75. This doesn't work.

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  76. To make this work in Firefox 4.0 I had to go to about:config and toggle webgl-force-enabled to be true.

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  77. good job. useful to all

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  78. as a pre med, I am totally disappointed that I cannot use this in Firefox 4... and my laptop is barely a year old.

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  79. Tried with Chrome 10 and Chrome Canary build ad I still get the "You need a Web browser that supports WebGL" message - WindowsXP

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  80. Body Browser works well in Firefox 4, but you need a compatible graphics card and updated drivers.

    Chrome has recently disabled WebGL in Windows XP because of the frequent crashes. "Because stability is one of Google Chrome's core principles, we've recently become stricter about requiring up-to-date drivers and graphics hardware by adding ranges of old drivers to Google Chrome's software rendering list."

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  81. I wanted to see the women's vagina and butt and breast but it just came up black.

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    Replies
    1. You may have to look for a pron site on the net. I believe there may be a few available. :)

      Delete
  82. I wanted to see body browser of HUMAN but it showed body browser of COW.....?????

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  83. Perhaps a 1st of april joke that hasn't yet been restored? Or where did they move the human body?

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  84. Yes, it's a joke. Try: http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/body.html#m=1

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  85. it doesn't work with chrome 11. please assist.

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  86. am not able to see label on option..

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  87. These all of the diagrams which are shown here are completely showing all of the body parts and they can easily make everyone to understand it. So these can help many medical students.

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  88. I don't know how you express your thoughts so skillfully. It's always a very thoughtful read that I enjoy in your articles.

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  89. Haha, I figured out how to make the person nude :D

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  90. I dont want to see a fat guy in the computer

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  91. it is not working for me :(((((((((((

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  92. It works fine on Firefox 6 but you need to add a scrollbar of some kind. I can't see the lower part of the navigation bars.

    And make it available for Android phones, not just tablets!

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  93. It's a shame you are planning on retiring this. I know that you are planning on it, however, because a large yellow box appears on my screen, telling me so. It is so large that it blocks part of the model and there is no way to simply close it. I understand not supporting or updating this any more... but did you have to ruin it while it's still otherwise functional?

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  94. I was redirected to zygote media group page, I put my email and I have received a note saying: "You'll be the first to know when Zygote Body™ is officially launched". I hope that the google body browse should be free, especially for education.

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  95. anatronica(dot)com

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  96. I wished it would have been alot better.I mean when I first went on it.I was kinda disapointed.I thought it would be alot better and ever since I first used it.I never used it again.I am sticking with wikipedia and normal google.

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  97. I would like it to be like before, I am a student at school and was good to learn the digestive system, respiratory system, the circulatory system, in order that I would not be paid, for now we can't see:(

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  98. Becoming so big, Google forgot about "Don't be evil !". Money made them to change that spirit. So they will eliminate everyting that is free.

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  99. As a medical student, I would love google forever if they brought this back. Great for seeing relationships between structures.

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  100. It is working well and helpful to all the medical students and bio studs.

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  101. i wish it wuz 4 free on the computer :(

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  102. and on the nextbook.

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  103. Thanks google, this tool is very helpful for me

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  104. it is not working for me :(

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  105. IMPRESIONANTE !!!!!!!!

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  106. Wonderful app, it works nice and smooth on Safari v5.1.3, I am using a Mac with OSX Lion 10.7.3.
    I hope this app could be linked with some web information about the body parts.

    Bye

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  107. its works fine for me and its called Zygote Body Now

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  108. it is not working for me,too :(

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  109. I have read many blogs in the net but have never come across such a well written blog. Good work keep it up
    Online Operators Sketchup

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