Purpose of the Review

  • Will medical students find this book adaptation a helpful reference?

Introduction

Physiology at a Glance is a book written by Jeremy P.T. Ward, Head of the Department of Physiology and Roger W.A. Linden,  Emeritus Professor of Craniofacial Biology, both from the Schools of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at King’s College London. The book features concise illustrations, data tables, and friendlier text to provide an introduction to physiology that integrates with the medical school curriculum.

The app Physiology at a Glance, 3rd Edition is an adaptation developed by MedHand Mobile Libraries, available for both iOS and Android. We will be taking a look at it below.

User Interface

Launching the app presents us with a simple interface. Physiology at a Glance breaks the study of Physiology down into core components, dealing with the structures of the body from cellular level to composite systems. The main screen lists chapter titles and each chapter focuses on an element of the body and explores vital concepts to aid students at all levels of their training.

Among the features included in this app adaptation we have the ability to write notes and highlight text. Physiology at a Glance also counts with medical calculators for Clearance, BMI, pH and others.

The app however, has its flaws. Along some of the screens we can find typing errors like the one displayed on the picture below and bookmarking doesn’t seem to work. These issues are minor compared to the lack of definition on the images and pictures provided with the text. Learning-wise, the schematics are very useful and easy to follow, but images in general appear blurry, as if improperly scanned. For over 30 dollars, one expects better.

Screenshot_2014-01-30-09-47-28 Screenshot_2014-01-30-09-42-41 Screenshot_2014-01-30-09-48-44 Screenshot_2014-01-30-09-46-52 Screenshot_2014-01-30-09-43-27

Evidence and literature used to support app

  • Oddly enough, the app doesn’t include references to source material.

Price

  • $34.99

Likes

  • Text is easy to read
  • Schematics are good

Dislikes

  • Pictures are blurry
  • Typos
  • Bookmarks don’t work

Conclusion

  • Physiology at a Glance is a good book to freshen up on physiology while on the go.
  • There is little multimedia use so it does not provide much in the way of added value. People who liked the original book will probably enjoy having an app version. Others, however, might feel disappointed that the app costs as much as the textbook.

Google Play Link
iTunes Link

Type of device used to review app – Moto X
App version – 1.9.1

Rating: (1 to 5 stars): 2.5/5

  • User interface – 3. UI is OK
  • Multimedia usage – 2. Images are blurry
  • Price – 2. The price is a bit high considering that you can purchase the book for the same amount
  • Real world applicability – 3. Med students could potentially find use in having this app