The BHMViewer / KAPro Software Suite is the "multimedia" supplement to the new Biomechanics of Human Movement textbook ((c) R. Schleihauf 10/04). This textbook is currently available through AuthorHouse Publications. For details on the textbook click here: Textbook Details

The textbook / courseware suite includes three components: 1) the traditional print textbook, 2) the BHMViewer CD-Rom textbook viewer software, and 3) the KAPro biomechanical analysis software program suite. The BHMViewer / KAPro CD-Rom is available to universities under a special site license agreement:

Laboratory-Support Software Distribution
The BHMViewer software is distributed under the "Laboratory-Support" Software Distribution plan. Laboratory-Support software distribution relies upon a direct agreement between college departments or university libraries and textbook authors. By eliminating numerous “middle men” it is possible to make the cost of a CD-Rom based textbook very economical. Not only does the Laboratory-Support distribution concept keep textbook costs low, it also provides a mechanism for upgrading college laboratory equipment. In particular, the Laboratory-Support distribution contract allows college departments to sell the BHMViewer / KAPro CD-ROM to every student in their program. The contract further requires that all funds raised through the sale of CDs must be used to purchase instructional equipment and materials that will be used by students.

For further details, click the following link: BHMViewer / KAPro Distribution Details

BHMViewer Tour
The BHMViewer software provides assess to a complete biomechanics textbook and includes animated color illustrations, slow motion and stop action video-clips, and interactive questions. The following figure shows a portion of the BHMViewer program window:

To advance through the text, the reader presses the spacebar or clicks the "Smart Advance" button. The underline focus then advances to the next graphic image marker (shown as a red diamond), or scrolls the text forward one page. The following figure shows a screen shot of a page with a video play-back in progress:

The viewer is designed to behave like a PowerPoint presentation with expanded text content. When you sit in a lecture hall and listen to a presentation, you get to hear the text content and see the graphic images associated with the text at appropriate instances in time. When the speaker gets to a given point in the lecture, she clicks the mouse to show you the image or critical text on the next slide. The BHMViewer software is designed to show critical graphics and animations at specific times within the text content as well. However, because you control the pace of the presentation, you are provided with the tools to trigger the display of graphics, animations and questions.

The following figure shows a graphic animation - the red highlight circle on the graphic draws the reader's attention to specific spot on the graphic. This approach simulates the effect of a speaker using a laser pointer during a PowerPoint presentation.

The BHMViewer and KAPro software programs are well integrated with one another. In particular, the KAPro software's strengths in scientific visualization are tied to the BHMViewer program through dozens of “KA Example Exercises”. These computer based laboratory experiences reinforce critical theoretical concepts and guides students through “mini” research data analysis exercises. To launch a KA Exercise, the reader clicks a link in the chapter text:

When the KA Exercise is launched, the appropriate software program (i.e., KA2D) is run and the KA Exercise script is loaded:

The above illustration shows that the KA2D program automatically loads the exercise example data file and displays help script instructions. These instructions guide the reader through a data analysis. When the analysis is complete, the KA program prompts the reader to answer questions about the exercise and then provides feedback to the question responses.