A Hypertext Database for Accessing the InternationalVeterinary Pathology Slide Bank Videodisc

B.R. Weeks, DVM, PhD; R. Smith III, DVM, PhD; J.R. Snell, DVM, MS; S. Mark Hall, DVM, PhD

Departments of Veterinary Pathology (Weeks, Smith) and Veterinary Public Health (Snell), Texas A&M University,College Station, TX 77843, and Veterinary Pathology (Hall), Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

Abstract

The International Veterinary Pathology Slide BankVideodisc is an archival resource containing more than12,000 color video images of interest to veterinary andcomparative pathologists. To increase the utility ofthis database, we have developed a HyperCard-baseddatabase for Macintosh computers that allows rapidsearches of the information associated with the images,and automatic display of specified images. Complexsearches are handled using HyperKRSTm, an indexingand search utility for HyperCard. A self-quiz isincluded, that uses synthesized speech and randomizedretrieval of images by specified organ system andspecies, with review of answers. Set-up utilities areincluded that allow the database to control severalbrands of videodisc player.

Introduction

The International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank(IVPSB) is an archive of photographic transparenciesbased at 'the University of Georgia's College ofVeterinary Medicine.1 Photographs of normalanatomy, gross and histologic lesions, and cytologyhave been provided to the IVPSB by numerouscontributors. The IVPSB produces an 8-inch laservideodisc containing approximately 12,000 of thesephotographic images, including some motion picturesegments. More than 7,000 of these images areindexed in an accompanying booklet by videodiscframe number,2 with data describing the species ofanimal, contributor's diagnosis, organ system(s)involved, contributor's name and institution, and otherdetails. The images on the videodisc may be reviewedone frame at a time, using a videodisc player andmonitor, and copies of the original photographictransparencies may be ordered from IVPSB.

The IVPSB videodisc is used by veterinary pathologyresidents and veterinary students for reviewing grossand histologic lesions. However, manually searchingthrough the booklet for cases of interest is laboriousand requires repeated manual programming of thevideodisc player to view the images.

A MS-DOS format d-Base.h file for the IVPSBdatabase is available, and several programs for MS-DOS computers have been written* that allowautomatic viewing of selected frames of the IVPSBvideodisc. Those generally take the form of either afixed progression through the images sorted bydiagnosis, species, or organ system3 or interactivetutorial programs that present a particular image fromthe videodisc when called for within the tutorial.4'5 Aprogram also is available for MS-DOS computers thatperforms keyword searches of the IVPSB database andautomatically displays videodisc images.6

Because the Department of Veterinary Pathology atTexas A&M University is served primarily by AppleMacintosh computers, we sought a convenient meansof accessing the images and information of the IVPSBvideodisc that was compatible with our existingcomputer resources and readily used by our faculty andstudents. Interactive lessons in human pathology thatuse Macintosh computers and videodisc players havebeen described7, but we found no existing Macintoshprograms for searching the IVPSB database, nortutorial programs for the Macintosh that automaticallydisplay selected images from the IVPSB videodisc.

We therefore constructed a database for the IVPSBvideodisc using HyperCard., a hypertext application

*Many of these are not widely distributed, nor are theirdescriptions published. Dr. Hall is presently compiling alist of software available for the IVPSB videodisc.

9220195-4210/90/0000/0922$01.00 © 1990 SCAMC, Inc.

for Macintosh computers that allows presentation oftext, sound, video images, etc. simultaneously withina database program. HyperCard also readily controlsmost popular brands of videodisc players, usingexisting program resources (XCMDs).

A significant hindrance to the use of HyperCard with alarge database is its limited search capabilities.HyperCard is capable of only a simple "fimd" functionfor a character string, "find chars" for specificcharacters, and "find word", or "find whole" functionsfor locating a specific word or number. Logicaloperators and multiple key words are not supported.By using a third-party indexing and search utility forHyperCard, we improved the speed and versatility ofsearches in the HyperCard database, while retaining itsease of use.

Materials and Methods

Data were imported into HyperCard as ASCII textfrom a MS-DOS format d-Base file containinginformation for the fourth edition IVPSB database.8After importing the data into HyperCard, keywordswere edited to enhance clarity and uniformity.Pioneer'" model 6010-A and model 4200 laservideodisc players are used, connected via their serialcommunication ports to Apple Macintosh Plus andSE/30 computers with a 20 to 40 megabyte hard disksand 1 to 4 megabytes random-access memory.Program resources (XCMDs) for addressing thevideodisc player were installed using ResEdit.9 Datafields and labels were configured using HyperCardscreen editing utilities (Figure 1).

An on-line "help" utility was incorporated into thedatabase, so that text explaining the function of aHyperCard "button" appears in the upper right-handwindow whenever the cursor ("Browse tool") movesover the button (Figure 2).

A glossary is also included, that may be accessed fronwithin the database. The user selects a term with thecursor, then clicks on the "Defn" button (Figure 1). Ifthe term is within the glossary file, a glossary screen

appears, displaying the term, a brief definition, andbuttons for accessing illustrations, further information,etc. (Figure 3).

allowing complex searches to be performed using"and", "or" and "but not" logical operators andmultiple keywords (Figure 4). HyperKRS compilesan index of every word in the database by HyperCard's"card" number. This allows searches using complexlogical operators and numerous keywords to beaccomplished rapidly within a relatively large database.

Buttons for "Previous match" and "Next Match" areincluded in the database to allow browsing of imagesmeeting search criteria (Figure 1).

Specific videodisc frame number searches are handledseparately from other searches, using the hypertalk"find whole" command. This provides a rapid andsimple means of accessing a known videodisc framenumber without the need for HyperKRSTm searches.The HyperCard "find" utility is retained, as well,allowing rapid location of single character strings inthe database.

Upon accessing any record in the database, the videoimage associated with it is automatically located on

the laserdisc and displayed. In addition to searches ofthe database by HyperKRSTm, keyword and framenumber, stepwise browsing of the videodisc isaccommodated, using HyperCard's "Next Card" and"Previous Card" buttons.

Figure 1. Appearance of the HyperCard IVPSBdatabase screen. Video frame number and informationabout the contributor are displayed on the right-handcolumn of the screen. Information conceming theorgan systems, species of animal, explanatory notes,and contributor's diagnosis is provided down the leftside of the screen.

A HyperCard database indexing and search utility(HyperKRSTht, KnowledgeSet Corp., Mountain View,CA, 94041) was incorporated into the database,

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Figure 2. On-line help is provided within thedatabase. Explanation of a button's function isdisplayed in the upper right-hand window whenever thecursor is positioned over the button. In thisillustration, the cursor is over the "Defn" (glossary)button.

A self-test is included (Figure 6), that allows the userto specify species and organ systems to be included,number of test questions, and time interval betweenquestions. Images in the database meeting the searchcriteria are then compiled, randomized, and presentedsequentially, with only the species name provided. Tofacilitate testing of several users at one time, thespecies name may be indicated by synthesized speech,thereby eliminating the need to see the Macintoshscreen during the quiz. At the end of the quiz, usersmay may review the images and compare theirresponses with the contributors' diagnoses.

The database for the fourth edition of the IVPSBvideodisc has not been completed. Information foronly the first 7,328 frames is presently available. Anexpanded version of this HyperCard database isanticipated once further data are available.

Implementation

Results and Discussion

The addition of HyperKRSTm indexing and searchutilities to the database greatly improves the speed andversatility of searches. The HyperKRS "Search card"provides both pull-down menus and blanks for enteringsearch criteria. The logical operators "and" and "butnot" are selected by card buttons; "or" is specified byplacing a comma between terms.Users may change the type of videodisc playeraddressed from a set-up menu within the program(Figure 5). Most popular brands of videodisc players,including Sony, Pioneer (4000, 6000, and 8000-series), Hitachi, and Panasonic are supported byprogram resources for HyperCard.

HyperCard provides access to the IVPSB database in aform that is intuitive and readily used by persons withminimal computer experience. Modification offeatures and information within the database isaccomplished without the need for extensive computerskills, and the on-line help and glossary functionsfurther enhance ease of use.

The International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bankvideodisc contains a broad range of material forteaching veterinary and comparative pathology. Withthe database available on Macintosh computers in theDepartment of Veterinary Pathology at Texas A&MUniversity, residents, faculty and veterinary studentshave ready access to thousands of high-qualityphotographic images related to veterinary pathology.The IVPSB videodisc and HyperCard database is aconvenient means of presenting photographs forreview by veterinary students. Pathology residentsreview the videodisc images when preparing forspecialty board examinations; the quiz function of thisdatabase allows users to simulate a timed examinationthat requires recognition of lesions from photographs.

The IVPSB database in HyperCard provides facultywith a convenient means of locating appropriateimages for use in creating tutorials. We are presentlycompiling images from the IVPSB for interactivetutorials in veterinary pathology, using Macintoshcomputers and HyperCard.

Data may be readily added, deleted or modified.However, because the HyperKRS search utility buildsits index using HyperCard's relative card numbers,whenever records (cards) are added or deleted theHyperKRS index file must be rebuilt, since cardnumber assignments will change within the database.

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selecting a term within the database and clicking onthe "Defn" button, the term is located within theglossary and displayed with a brief defimition.Illustrations, if available, are accessed by selecting the"Show pict" button.

Figure 4. The HyperKRS'm search card. Complexsearch strategies using numerous keywords and logicaloperators are readily accommodated. Results of thesearch are listed at the bottom of the screen; selectingone of these then accesses the record and displays thevideo image on the monitor.

Figure 5. Appearance of the set-up utility screen.

Users may select from several types of videodiscplayer, activate synthesized speech for species names,and display or suppress display of the videodisc framenumber on the monitor. Editing of species and organsystem keywords is also accomplished from thisscreen.

Figure 6. The self-test utility allows users to selectan organ system and several species for the quiz, aswell as set the number of images and time for eachquestion. Images meeting the user's search criteria are

then randomly selected and the images are shown onthe monitor. For each image, the species is indicatedin a message window, or by synthesized speech. Atthe end of the quiz, answers may be reviewed.

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References

1. International Veterinary Pathology Slide Bank,Coordinated by Wayne A. Crowell, DVM, PhD andD.E. Tyler, DVM, PhD; Department of VeterinaryPathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Universityof Georgia, Athens GA. 30602

2. International Veterinary Pathology Slide BankVideodisc Catalog, 4th edition, January, 1990,Department of Veterinary Pathology, College ofVeterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602

3. Hall, S.M. Systemic Pathology Study Sets for theIVPSB videodisc. Department of Veterinary Pathology,College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506

4. Roesel, Fred. Vagus Authoring System. Collegeof Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, WestLafayette, IN. 47907

5. Smith, Fred. LIHM (Latent Image Hypermedia).College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602

6. Smith, Fred. VPFIND. College of VeterinaryMedicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

7. Kumar K., Hodgins M. Use of interactive videodiskfor teaching of pathology laboratory cases. Journal ofPathology 160:145-149, 1990.

8. Kaehler, Carol. "Importing and Exporting Text".In: HyperCardPower: Techniques and Scripts. pp.355-359, 1988. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.

9. ResEditTM, Apple Computer Inc.

Acknowledgements

Supported in part by an Enhancement Grant from theCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&MUniversity. Programming consultation was providedby Jos6 Quintana, VerCom Systems, College Station,TX 77840. The authors thank Debra Cunninghamand Kelly Shomette for their technical assistance.

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