DK The Human Body

DK The Human Body

The definitive guide to the body that shows off the power of the iPad

It is not only the sheer scale of information contained in this app that is impressive; the images that accompany each description of a system within the body are incredibly detailed and engaging to look at too.

DK was clearly looking to enhance its reputation as the supplier of the definitive reference books, and this app more than does this. There are 12 different systems of the body to choose from, with each system containing a seemingly endless amount of detail through annotated diagrams, sub-menus and even videos. We strongly recommend the video breakdown of how the heart pumps blood, as it will have you clutching at your chest to see if you can feel the different processes occurring.

The balance of the app is also impressive. Given the amount of information, and the level of detail needed to make it digestible, DK does a great job of making everything accessible, no matter your reasons for exploring the app, and therefore the human body. Whether you’re a doctor, an eager student or just an intrigued browser, you’ll be able to enjoy and understand the images and text, which is weighted perfectly with enough technical terms to keep you interested, but not so much that you’ll feel you need a PhD to read it all. All the text is helped by the quality of the illustrations.

There are more than 270 images, AND each one was specially designed for the iPad. Every one is annotated with extensive detail to cover every inch of the body. The 12 systems on offer in The Human Body do something similar, breaking down all the functions of the body into categories that cover everything from the skeleton to the nervous system and the reproductive system.

Navigation was obviously something heavily considered by the developers, as it’s kept as straightforward as possible. Selecting a system from the main menu will see you presented with a full body overview of every nerve, muscle and hair that’s part of that system. From here, you have several options should you wish to delve deeper into this particular area of the body’s functions. Each of these main diagrams comes with a text description, which drops down and can be easily scrolled through.

Also, you can make use of each system’s sub-menu, which breaks it down further into a swipe-through selection with an image to represent it. You’ll always have a clear idea what each section will be covering.  This is another of the app’s strengths; it maintains a very high level of clarity through even the most supposedly difficult-to explain-areas, such as the nervous system and the brain. Of course, you have the images to fall back on if the text starts to lose you, and that’s why this is so effective as a reference guide.

DK has designed and balanced both the text and images perfectly, so you never get lost in the information. As well as the sub-menus, there is also a quick navigation tool called System Select, which if tapped allows you to swiftly move from one body system to another without needing to retrace your steps back through what you’re currently viewing.  Overall then, DK The Human Body is an incredible encyclopaedia for anyone interested in anatomy, whether it’s a casual interest or part of your career,  you will find this app can help, educate and engage you.

Rated 5 out of 5

A great reference app, full of detail without compromising on style.

Screenshots


  • Ian

    TITLE=DragonBox – The Coolest Algebra App Ever for Kids (Seriously!);RATING=5;If you have a child who loves playing mobile games, let me introduce you to Dragonbox. Dragonbox is a revolutionary new game that will help your child to learn algebra while progressing at their own pace. I´ve seen some great iPad apps before, mainly on this website, but this cool game deserves a special post. The people behind Dragonbox have created a game that enables children experience algebra concepts as a real game that is actually geart fun! After only one hour of playing, they´ll be able to solve mathematical equations and have fun doing it too – you could say a “win-win” situation. Move the picture boxes around the screen using the game rules (the rules of algebra) and try to isolate the dragon box. The DragonBox game has been tested in schools in Norway, where the results showed significant increased understanding of basic mathematics and the improved ability to solve complex equations. My own 11 and 14 year olds enjoyed competing to complete the DragonBox+ version (with 100 extra levels), my daughter even replaying levels to get to the full 3 reward stars available to collect in each level. I also caught my wife moving the colourful boxes around the screen and muttering how addictive it was. I´ve read that children as young as 5 years old have learned the ideas behind solving algebraic equations using this very clever game. It really is a great game for parents to play along with their kids – and freshen up their own maths skills. Starting with removing starbursts, and moving on to adding negative dragons to both sides, DragonBox introduces deviding and multiplying terms in the same step-by-step, easy to understand way. The game is great for young kids who have never heard of algebra as well as older kids who don´t completely understand the usual ´we move this one over here and devide this one´ type explanations. Read the reviews on iTunes and Google Play to see how much kids (plus parents and teachers) are loving this game. DragonBox+ contains an additional 100 standard equations featuring good old fashioned letters, to help your child become a master of algebra, even finding the most difficult looking equations easy to solve. DragonBox and DragonBox+ are universal apps. Buy once and play on your iPad (like my kids) or on your iPhone (like me and my wife). The games are reasonably priced – DragonBox costs £1.99 and DragonBox+ that comes with an extra 100 games costs £3.99. DragonBox has definitely got me smiling this summer – http://www.dragonboxapp.com

  • TITLE=Great “MAKE ME MUSIC” app for Young Kids!;RATING=5;Stylishly rendered Garage Band for beginners that lets kids express their inner Mozart or Madonna while learning about rhythm and melody in a bright, beautiful sound garden. Make Me Music, is a loud, raucous cacophony of ringing, honking, strumming and banging instruments brought to life by legendary Beatles´ artist Alan Aldridge and the creative folks at FeeFiFoFun.com.
    The app is very user-friendly with little or no instruction needed. The home screen has a big play button in the centre surrounded by a few instruments including some with hands and feet.
    Pushing play takes you directly to the music room. It’s anchored by a winding red pipe covered in garlands of flowers that laugh or make funny noises when touched. A question mark in the top left corner brings up basic directions which let parents know that the four flowers across the bottom of the screen control rhythms and the arrows in the bottom right corner let you change the melody from a Caribbean vibe ukulele to a jazzy trumpet. When the melody is changed, the background in the room changes colour as well which gives pre-schoolers a subtle hint to perhaps change the tempo of their composition.
    All the kid-created symphonies and concertos can be recorded by activating the microphone symbol on the bottom left. Kids get a 3, 2, 1 countdown before recording begins. Compositions can be saved by emailing them to yourself or friends. They are converted to a mp4 format, so once downloaded, tunes can be made into ringtones or used as background music for home movies or whatever creative pursuit calls for maximum banging and clanging.
    Music is the great equalizer because you are never too young, too old or too disabled to participate in it. The recordings my kids and I made with Make Me Music were not as pretty as the app’s band room, but we had a lot of fun. Private music lessons or even the yuppie filled music classes I took my kids to are expensive and a luxury many families (and increasingly schools) can no longer afford. If the research is to be believed, this $1.99 app which follows the Orff method is a good investment in your child’s academic future.
    Regardless of your stance on the importance of music education, Make Me Music is a welcome departure from the plethora of preschool apps and games currently available.
    Recommended for 3+ ios. http://tinyurl.com/makememusic