Google launches ‘Body Browser’

By Mark Hachman | Updated on 18-Jan-2016

18-Jan-2016

On Thursday, Google launched the Google Body Browser, said to be a Google Earth-like experience for the human body.

Body Browser is a detailed 3D model of the human body," Google said in an introduction. "You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more."Unfortunately, PCMag.com could not get the new application to work, a problem shared by at least one other commenter on the page. Google published the Body Browser as an in-browser tool.

The Body Browser requires a browser, such as the beta version of Chrome, with WebGL. WebGL, a 3D graphics API that can be run directly within the browser, was implemented in the Chrome beta that was launched earlier this week.

Like the Google Sky Map for Android, users can search for individual organs, or "peel back" and expose different systems, such as the skeleton and internal organs. The 3D model, which is female, can also be rotated and zoomed in and out.

Unfortunately, the page simply displayed the female model, but refused to allow it to be rotated or manipulated when PCMag.com tried it – possibly an issue tied to a hardware configuration, or an indication that Google needs to tweak its own technology. Users will have to download the beta version of Chrome, which will put them on the beta track for updates; PCMag.com did so.

However, two users on Google's comments page also noted problems that prevented the page from loading.

"Can't load page using 9.0.597.19 beta. Get the "Aw Snap" page after load attempt," "Pondopholous" wrote.