December 20, 2007

LINCOLN, Neb. — Steve Jones yearns to stand at the head of a classroom filled with row upon row of students decked out in 10-cent eyewear.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln animal science professor is working with others to develop a three-dimensional video that showcases bovine anatomy – specifically bone and muscle structure.

"This isn't that 1950s technology that comes to mind when you mention 3D," Jones said. "We're talking about a new wow factor that has the potential to be an extremely powerful teaching tool."

The video – created by Vishal Singh, a specialist in UNL's Communications and Information Technology – shows the location of muscles in bovine anatomy. The initial production shows muscles slowly building up on a rotating skeleton, with Jones providing a voice over with information on bovine anatomy and beef industry trends. The video is available online at YouTube.

The video is an offshoot of the Bovine Myology and Muscle Profiling Web site. Developed by Jones and Singh through funding by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Bovine Myology site allows users to scroll through cross sections of a beef carcass, while accessing photos of specific muscles. The site also includes a basic 3-dimensional carcass that can be rotated by the user.

The 3-D work was funded by the Nebraska Beef Council.

"We really appreciate the beef council's support. We could not have done this work without them," Jones said.

Jones said the Web site – which is accessible in six different languages – has become an industry staple.

"The database is used in our classrooms and we have a number of people around the world using it for research," Jones said. "But 35 percent of our hits are from the industry. It has become the industry's new reference tool – before this they would reference manuals and textbooks printed in the early 1960s."

Looking to push the technology further, Jones, Singh and a former UNL colleague started tossing around ideas. Singh, who previously worked in the computer gaming industry, suggested venturing into the third dimension.

"Students are already experienced with what 3D technology is like," Singh said. "They have experienced it, growing up with 3D movies and video games. It seemed like a logical choice to meet them halfway and bring technology they are familiar with into the classroom."

Jones was a bit skeptical.

"I figured my colleagues would think I was out to make a new bovine myology video game," Jones said. "But, we agreed it had potential and we went forward with it."

Information from the Web site was used to create the 3D video. Singh mapped out the skeletal system, layering in the muscles. He then took actual photos of the muscle cuts and wrapped them around the computer models.

"We've tried to make it as realistic as technology allows," Singh said.

The video has been showcased to a number of groups – from students and industry leaders to conference goers and State Fair visitors. At each presentation, the primary response is, "wow."

"It never fails. Whatever the age group, the first word out of their mouths is, 'wow,'" Jones said. "We took it to the national meetings of the American Meat Science Foundation and it kind of sold itself. We started with 12 to 15 people in the first session and the next session we had 50 people.

"We heard people talking about it, telling others that they had to go see it."

Jones is currently seeking funding to incorporate 3D-projection technology into an East Campus classroom. Aaron Hosier, an information technology analyst with UNL's Information Services, has joined Jones and Singh to help usher the product into the classroom.

"I have worked with virtual reality programs for more years than I care to say," Hosier said. "But, with the bits and pieces I've purchased through the years, we're able to put this video into a 3D stereoscopic version and show people just what it can do."

Jones is using a non-classroom area to showcase the technology. He said it would take about $20,000 to outfit a classroom with the projection technology needed.

Specialized projectors make up the bulk of the expense. However, inexpensive glasses (which are very plain compared to the classic red and blue models) are needed as well. The glasses can be bought in bulk for about 10 cents each.

Once in the classroom, Jones said he plans to use the video to reinforce lessons on bovine muscle and bone structure. He believes the video will help students better identify where cuts of meat are located, making it easier for them to transition into a lab setting where they are responsible for cutting particular muscles from a carcass.

"Often, when we are in the lab, I end up helping each student with the cuts," Jones said. "This video will help show them exactly where those cuts need to be made.

"I don't see the video ever replacing the hands-on lessons in the lab, but it will be a powerful study aid. If a student misses a lab or needs to review the information, all they have to do is access this video."

Jones also hopes to market the video as an educational tool to the beef industry. He also hopes to expand the animal science offering with videos on other meat-producing creatures – specifically pork (a porcine myology Web site preceded the bovine site).

The technology also has started to spread to other campus units. CIT has developed 3D videos for a handful of other classrooms and a promotional piece showcasing major study areas in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

"When I began teaching here, I used a pen on an acetate roll, writing and erasing over and over," Jones said. "I never imagined we would bring classroom instruction to this point. The tools we have at hand to improve our teaching are always changing. And it's fun to be able to offer something like this."

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources also includes UNL Extension, the Agricultural Research Division and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. A 2007 study by an independent organization found IANR annually returns at least $15 in benefits to Nebraskans for every dollar of state support, making it a primary engine for economic and social sustainability (atworkfornebraska.unl.edu).

12/20/07-TF

Contacts:

Steven J. Jones - Ph.D.
Animal Science
Professor
(402) 472-5566

Vishal Singh
Communications & Information Technology
Multimedia Design Specialist
(402) 472-7856

Dan Moser
IANR News & Photography Coordinator
(402) 472-3007

Department:
Communications & Information Technology