Google has released the Google Body Browser to Google Labs. Google Body Browser is implemented using WebGL, which enables the display and interaction with three-dimensional (3D) graphics that are fully integrated with Web browsers. WebGL is the Web version of the 3D graphics standard OpenGL and is displayed by the HTML5 canvas element.

Figure 1. View the circulatory and central nervous systems in Google Body Browser using Google Chrome beta.

I believe that the Google Chrome beta is currently the only browser that implements WebGL but the other browsers are certain to follow Google’s lead. High quality 3D graphics display has been the last great hurdle to providing visually compelling Web browser based applications. With WebGL expect the floodgates to amazing new Web-based applications to open.

Figure 2. View the central nervous system in Google Body Browser using Google Chrome beta.

The upper left part of the Google Body Browser window has a tool area. The complete body is initially shown by default. In addition, you may select from five systems including the muscular, skeletal, internal organ, circulatory, and central nervous systems.

In the tool area, if the vertical “pill” below the brain and to the left is selected, then you may move the horizontal bar up (top complete human body) and down (bottom nervous system and very bottom nothing). See Figure 2 for an example showing just the central nervous system.

In the tool area, if the vertical “pill” below the brain and to the right is selected, then you may move each of six vertical bars right and left. When a bar is all the way left, the associated system is completely transparent (it doesn’t show). As you move the bar right, the system fades in. This enables you to look at more than one system at the same time. See Figure 1 for an example showing the circulatory and central nervous systems.

Wow! Great tool and, even though the only thing currently attached are labels, it’s clear that all sorts of data may be associated with the structures displayed in the Google Body Browser including the data we found associated with the brain in the Whole Brain Catalog (see my blog post Whole Brain Catalog: the Google Earth for the Brain). Looks like the Google Body Browser will be the portal for life sciences and medical data.


Other related blog posts:

Whole Brain Catalog: the Google Earth for the Brain