www.capnography.com: An animated website
Bhavani-Shankar Kodali · Anesthesia & Analgesia · 2001
To the Editor: New educational tools are constantly evolving to keep pace with the progress in science and technology. The World Wide Web and Internet technology can be used as a powerful educational tool in the new millennium. The World Wide Web is a vast information database from which information can be accessed any time. Using multi/macromedia programs real time animations can be created to explain the underlying physical, physiological and clinical principles of anesthetic practice. Macromedia programs facilitate easy understanding of complex principles via animation and dynamic presentation. One example of a Web-based teaching site is http://www.Capnography.com. This site includes “ASA-standards of monitoring,” the reasons why capnography has become a standard of monitoring, and the physical and physiological principles underlying capnography, along with highlights of its clinical applications. In addition, the site provides an encyclopedia of capnograms, tips on using capnography, and a capno-quiz designed to test one’s understanding of capnography. The hallmark of this site is the use of animation to explain a majority of these concepts. All capnograms appear as true to those normally seen in familiar operating rooms. The web site also provides a forum for the exchange of constructive as well as critical ideas. The amazing feature of web technology is that the desirable changes or ideas can be implemented immediately, unlike textbooks or scientific journals. Bhavani-Shankar Kodali, MD