[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwdJ5qJvQ_0?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344%5D

I’ve just had a chance to explore Body Browser from Google, a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more. I created the little video above to provide a quick overview of what it looks like onscreen. To view it you need a Web browser that supports WebGL, a plug-in-free programming interface, to power its 3D graphics. So I downloaded Google Chrome Beta and it worked straight away when I pasted http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/ into the browser bar.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Google product without search. Type any muscle, bone, or organ into the search box at the top of the page, and Body Browser will instantly zoom into the appropriate part to show you where it is. One other neat feature worth mentioning: Body Browser adjusts its URL as you move along, so if you ever want to save a particular view or share it with someone else, all you have to do is copy the current Web address and save or send it. For instance, to see a detailed view of the pancreas click here.

I’ll be watching developments of Body Browser with interest – thanks for another great product, Google!