| Summary: | The study of human osteology has always relied on access to real skeletal remains from collections for teaching, learning, and reference. it has long been supplemented by representational and replica materials, some two-dimensional, such as illustrations and photographs, and others three-dimensional, such as casts and, more recently, 3D digital objects. All are important aids in the study of osteology; however, some of the most exciting advances have recently been made in interactive 3D digital osteology objects. In recent years with the adoption of 3D scanning technology in osteology, such as CT, MRI, laser, and structured light scanners, these 3D digital objects are no longer limited to computer-generated representations, and now include replicas of real human skeletal remains. These can be presented with photo-realistic colours, dynamic textures, and detailed features, and as such they represent a major shift forward in interactive 3D digital osteology. Dactyl, the focus of this review, is the newest addition to this area and is the first to incorporate all of the key advances into one resource: an app that uses tactile response to interact with high-quality replica 3D digital objects.
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