The School of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool is using cutting edge devices to let students analyze the internal anatomy of animals with their smart phones or tablets.

The School, which topped the league table for veterinary science in The 2015 University Guide in the Guardian, is attempting to further strengthen its offer by developing augmented reality.

Like Us on Facebook

AR will let the students view the inside of a particular animal by holding their smart device against a physical source or an image, which then uncovers another set image, including videos, on the smartphone or tablet.

"We are always looking for new ways to engage learners and help them get the most out of their learning experience here," said Avril Senior, a Lecturer in Learning Technology and Senior Tutor in the School of Veterinary Science.

"We follow evidence-based best practice to utilise and apply technology to improve teaching delivery," she added.

The team was able to create a three-dimensional image of a horse's heart, which is unveiled on the student's smartphone when it is held up against drawings of hearts. They also developed a short video of a horse in the operating theater of the school that is played when an image of the theater doors is viewed throught their device.

There is also a horse image that, when viewed through a tablet or smartphone, unveils the 3D internal anatomy of the animal.

"Designing guides to aid the understanding of anatomy, and the performance of clinical skills, by producing resources for our veterinary teaching suite and hospitals is the more serious teaching application of AR," Avril said.

"Students can see through to the 'inside' of a horse just by holding up their smartphone. They can then relate this to the patients they are seeing in the clinic," she added.

Tagshorse, Horse anatomy, Veterinary Medicine, Veterinarians, Veterinary sciences