Comments on: Visible Body Finally Visible

By: What’s on the web? (11 December 2007) « ScienceRoll

What’s on the web? (11 December 2007) « ScienceRoll — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:07:59 +0000

[...] As David announced it today, the Visible Body is now available for everyone. This visualization tool features a 3D model of the human body. You’re required to use Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash Player plug-in 8.0+. [...]

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:11:50 +0000

I think that engineering the interactive funcitons to work on any OS and any browser is really pretty difficult. One of the reasons that Firefox is more secure than IE is because it doesn’t have ActiveX controls that let the browser tie into the computer’s local functions- and those ActiveX controls can be pretty powerful.

And contrary to your feelings (and mine) about IE as a deeply inferior browser, it is still enormously popular (one could even say “well-loved”.)

All that being said, I share your disappointment when neat applications can only be used by those using a Microsoft OS and browser.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:21:10 +0000

Principle-wise, I’m more opposed in to instructions like this in general, that limit to Windows only and to a not-very-well-loved browser. With all the technical know-how that goes into these things, why not make it work more broadly? Also, I have a Mac running Firefox at home. I’m annoyed at Netflix for the same reason – not making instant downloads work for Mac. But I’m gonna take my pity party and go home now.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:12:12 +0000

Well…I’m not fond of IE either, but I keep it around. Are you opposed to it in *principle*?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:08:47 +0000

I was enthused about this until I registered and then got this in my activation message: “You must use Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher on a machine running Windows XP or Vista.” Hmph. No thanks.

Okay, I definitely have my cranky hat on today.