WebPath: the Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education

The following hardware and software are used to create the WebPath resources:

• Most of WebPath was originally created with a Macintosh 8100 computer with 16MB of RAM, 1 GB hard disk drive, and 17" monitor. A newer Macbook air is now in use

• Digital images are added to a permanent archive

• Image editing software (e.g., GIMP) creates the .jpg and .gif images

• A simple text editor (BBEdit) is used to create the html files, which are essentially repetitive throughout this web site

• The program called Gifbuilder is used to generate animated gif image files

• HTML and JavaScript programming code is generated and reviewed and updated with BBEdit

• Standard web browsers are used to preview the html files

• The FTP client program called Transmit is used to upload files

The use of the WWW server for multimedia has provided the following advantages:

• Additions to and editing of the materials can be accomplished in minutes (traditional textbooks take years to develop)

• The materials are available worldwide from any computing device with web browser capability connected to the Internet -- students can study in multiple venues

• The technology supporting the WWW continues to expand rapidly, assuring further capabilities and improvements