Master’s Research
Development of an interactive teaching application that demonstrates the musculoskeletal relationships of the arm.
My project aimed to create an interactive application that demonstrates the musculoskeletal relationships of the arm. It was designed to supplement learning materials for kinesiology and anatomy students, as well as medical students and instructors. The application allows users to manipulate muscle and joint movements, encouraging learning beyond rote memorization. It uniquely combines simplified musculature, dynamic elements, and self-guided exploration for teaching musculoskeletal anatomy.
Research Committee
Michael Corrin BFA, BA, Hons BSc, MScBMC
Judi Laprade BA, BScPT, MSc, PhD
Award of Excellence 2017
Association of Medical Illustrators
Design & Wireframing
Wireframes were iteratively produced, amended, and refined. Design changes were made to the layout, navigation, status notifications, visual grouping, and discoverability of elements. These decisions were guided by evidence-based principles from Usability.gov, Nielsen Norman Group, and Google Material Design guidelines.
3D Model Production
Bones were scanned with a NextEngine 3D laser scanner, then refined in ZBrush to reshape, adjust proportions, and add texture using references. The goal was to create accurate models with detailed surface features. Topology was optimized for performance, and final setup was completed in Autodesk Maya.
3D Model Production
During development, the project was broken into small prototypes, each built individually in Unity with C#. These components were gradually combined into larger, more robust proofs of concept. The final application was then refined through usability testing.