Development of electrocardiographic teaching materials using an MC68000-based, interactive graphics microcomputer

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Graphics

Background:

• Computer-aided design (CAD) methods are established in science and industry but underutilized in medical education.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform fabrication presents a defined opportunity for CAD application in creating educational content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of interactive computer graphics for producing ECG teaching materials.
• To assess the feasibility of using readily available microcomputers and graphics software for this purpose.

Main Methods:

• Development of an interactive computer graphics routine.
• Utilizing inexpensive 16/32-bit microcomputers (e.g., Apple Macintosh) and graphics software (e.g., MacPaint, MacDraw).
• Focus on fabricating electrocardiogram waveforms for educational use.

Main Results:

• Successful development of an interactive graphics routine for ECG teaching material production.
• Demonstrated the utility of affordable microcomputers and standard graphics software for this application.
• Gained initial experience in applying CAD to medical education content creation between June 1984 and March 1985.

Conclusions:

• Interactive computer graphics provide a viable and accessible method for generating medical education materials, specifically ECG waveforms.
• The use of common microcomputer hardware and software makes this approach practical for medical educators.
• This study highlights a promising avenue for integrating CAD tools into medical training.