A.D.A.M. Comprehensive 2.3 for Windows

The publisher is A.D.A.M. Software Inc., which publishes A.D.A.M. Comprehensive for Windows as well as A.D.A.M. Essential and A.D.A.M. The Inside Story. A.D.A.M. Software Inc.'s phone number is 1-404-980-0888.

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Content

 A.D.A.M. (Animated Dissection of Anatomy for Medicine) is an "anatomical dissection and medical information organizing tool." The comprehensive version is the professional level of the three-part Scholar Series. A.D.A.M. displays the anatomy of the male and female human body and allows users to explore the body and its systems. Users can choose a male or female body along with a choice of skin tones. For the more modest explorer, A.D.A.M. comes with the option that "lets users cover the genitals and female breasts permanently with fig leaves." This option can be left to the discretion of the user during installation.

There are three windows in this version of A.D.A.M.: primary, library, and structure list window. The Primary Window is the main area. This is where the panel buttons and menu commands are located. The A.D.A.M. navigator lets users change the image in the window. There are a variety of tools that can be used in this window. The identify tool highlights and labels an area of the body. There is a zoom tool that magnifies and identifies a specific area of the body. The find tool searches for specific body parts or systems. The operating button opens the Operating Room and lets users perform surgical procedures such as cleansing, cutting, and suturing.

The Library Window contains electronic books and digitized x-rays and cross sections. The x-rays can be expanded and placed side by side on the page. A.D.A.M. provides both male and female x-rays of the skeletal system. Books can be added to the book shelf or created using products from the A.D.A.M. Catalog. This is an optional feature and must be purchased separately

The final window is the Structure List Window. This window lets users explore the many components of the human body and provides links to related graphics and text. Users can browse through an alphabetized list of body organs or enter the name for a fast search.

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Ease of Use

 A beginner might find this CD difficult to install as it comes with a hardware enabling key that must be attached to the computer parallel port. This key protects against unauthorized use. After installation is complete users will be able to easily explore this CD. This CD comes with an informative users' guide as well as on-line help and balloons. Registered users can also access free telephone support for the first 60 days. [Top of Page]

Audience and Recommendations

 Although the box implies that this CD is for use at the graduate or professional level, the users' guide lists the intended audience as "wide-ranging". It includes educators, librarians, students at any grade or level, and even pharmaceutical sales representatives as potential users. Students at the junior high level and up could use this program at an independent exploratory level. Elementary students working independently may be overwhelmed by the comprehensiveness of this program. At the elementary level this program would be best utilized as a demonstration tool by teachers. A.D.A.M. Software Inc. does offer other versions of A.D.A.M. that would be better suited to elementary grades.

This is an excellent easy-to-use program that this reviewer would highly recommend for older children and adults that are interested in the human body.

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Installation Details

 The system requirements are:

IBM PC or compatible 386 SX (486 recommended) 25 MHZ processor or higher

Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or higher

8 MB RAM

9 MB hard disk space

SVGA color monitor, 256 colors at 640x480 resolution or higher

Mouse or other Windows-compatible pointing device

Windows-compatible double speed or faster CD-ROM drive

MSCDEX Version 2.0 or higher CD-ROM driver

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Other Reviews

 This review is for a related A.D.A.M.product.

"Unlike many multimedia applications, A.D.A.M left me wanting to
 see more.  If you are the least bit interested in learning more
 about how the human body works, buy this program." 

 Franklin Tessler.  (1995). "A.D.A.M. the inside story." 
 Macworld 12 (3), 81.


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Reviewed by Sheila Flatley.  Flately is a master's candidate at 
the Graduate School of Library and Information Science.  She 
will be graduating in May, 1996.


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