CellUniverse
The CellUniverse is the main component
of the CELLmicrocosmos CellExplorer. Here, the cell model is
visualized and can be explored. Additional information about the cell
components can be shown in the InformationBrowser;
this component will be explained in detail on this manual page. In
addition, cell components can be added to a tour.
1) The Navigation inside the Cell
The navigation is based on standard W, S, A, D - controls,
for moving forward, backward, left and right in the CellUniverse. By
using the mouse wheel, the view can be zoomed in or zoomed out. The
standard mode is the Floating mode.
To increase the clarity, a Head-up-Display (H-u-D) was
implemented which shows a map which shows a miniature view of the
actual cell model. A cone-shaped symbol indicates the position and
the viewing direction of the user in relation to the cell. In
addition the H-u-D contains six arrows. Four arrows - arranged in a
cross shape - and the other two contrary-positioned correspond to the
W, S, A, D - controls; the two additional arrows pointing to the top
and the bottom shift the view in the respective direction. The arrow
symbols are activated by the left mouse button. The H-u-D can be
toggled via the menu "Gui" and the item "HUD".
It is also possible to rotate around the center of an object
which was bound to the view by performing a double click onto the
corresponding object. In this case, the navigation mode is changed to
the Objectbound Mode. By pressing the
left mouse button or by using the W, S, A, D - keys the user
navigates around the selected component. The right button shifts the
perspective. By performing a double click onto an empty position, the
Objectbound Mode is exited and the Floating View is active.
The third mode is the Flight)
Mode which is activated by pressing the Shift key. The left mouse
button moves forwards, the right mouse button backwards. During the
flight, the speed can be toggled by using the mouse wheel. The speed
increases if the wheel is moved towards the flight direction and vice
versa.
2) The Creation of Tour Points
A Tour Point is created by right-clicking a component and by
selecting the corresponding item in the invoked menu item "Add Component to Tour".
It is also possible to create Tour Points by using the popup
menu of the CellEditor. Please see the
corresponding manual page.
3) Basic Information about the Cell Components
Information about the cell components are shown by right-clicking on
a cell component and by selecting the menu item "Show
Information". The window InformationBrowser
will be opened.
The InformationBrowser
The InformationBrowser contains
a small Wiki, in which basic information according specific cell
components can be shown, which can be selected in the CellUniverse or in the CellEditor
But it is also possible to browse all cytological information
in the InformationBrowser by using the
option "Back to the Overview" and by clicking at the cell
component of interest.
If detailed information are needed and there exists an active
internet connection, the InformationBrowser
contains a link "Further Informationen" which redirects the
user to the corresponding Wikipedia page.
Studies shows that the
quality of Wikipedia is comparable with well-established
encyclopedia. Anyway, the content of Wikipedia always has to
be accessed in a critical way, because the content of this web site
can be manipulated anytime by different users or it may be outdated,
and therefore it may not be correct.