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.