HEARTLAB - A MULTI-MODE SIMULATION FOR TEACHING CARDIAC AUSCULTATION

A threaded interpretive language (TIL), Forth, was utilized to implement HeartLab, a simulation-based program designed to teach medical students the essentials of the auscultatory cardiac exam. The simulation output, high-resolution bit-mapped graphics coupled with realistic, computer-generated heart sounds, makes full use of the Apple Macintosh sound and graphics capabilities. Multimode simulation of this type and construction of an appropriate patient model create a number of design challenges for which this approach proved to be particularly well suited.