Virtual-reality frog dissection

V-Frog, the world’s first virtual reality-based frog dissection software has been developed by Tactus Technologies, a project of the University at Buffalo Virtual Reality Laboratory. Designed for biology education, this software will allow observation and physically simulated dissection, and is supported by the Humane Society of the United States.

“Other products out there are multimedia, not true virtual reality,” explains Kevin P Chugh PhD, president and chief scientist of the project.

V-Frog, which operates on a personal computer using a standard mouse, actually simulates nearly unlimited manipulation of specimen tissue. As a result, every dissection is different, reflecting each student’s individual work. The software is designed for grades 7 through 12, plus advanced placement biology students.

Using a simple mouse and PC, students can ‘pick up’ a scalpel, cut open V-Frog’s skin, and explore the internal organs — with true real-time interaction and 3D navigation that actually accommodates discovery and procedures not possible with a physical frog specimen.

“You can go through the entire alimentary canal, using the endoscopic function — something you could never do with a real frog,” says Chugh. “Likewise, with our V-Frog, you can explore nerves and blood vessels, and look closely at how the brain is wired. Students would never get the opportunity to see and work with these things this way with a real frog.”

Life-like V-Frog, which was in development for three years, allows for comparative anatomy, letting students make parallels and contrasts between the amphibian’s physiology and that of a human being, crab and other organisms. In addition, V-Frog allows students to watch a beating heart, observe digestion, dissect, probe and perform endoscopic procedures.

“With other products, it’s just a video — static and two-dimensional,” Chugh explains. “This is a simulation product, not simply a static website. It’s actually superior to physical specimens and multimedia representations. The technology allows for virtual surgery. Our tissue simulation lets students see the correlation between form and function, and can be manipulated however the student wishes. It’s truly a physically simulated dissection.”

“This is very much a sign of the times,” declares Chugh, noting that at least 25 states have laws or ordinances mandating that, if dissection is part of a school’s curriculum, students must have an alternative to dissection. “It’s a mainstream reality.”

Chugh also believes that V-Frog’s simulated dissection is more economical than real dissection due to its one-time licence cost versus annual replacement of real frogs, dissection supplies and chemicals.

For further information, visit Tactus Technologies.