Medical students, physicians, nurses, clinical and childbirth educators, and expectant parents will appreciate the app for its stunning visual presentation of what is going on both with the mother’s body and the fetal journey from conception to birth.
Now, when a clinician is explaining to patients what is happening at a given time in a pregnancy, they will have at their fingertips a tool to show how a baby develops, and what a baby can experience from within the womb. For example, there are simulations of 'in utero moments,' such the first heartbeat, kicking, when the eyes first open, first time hearing and tasting. In addition to providing excellent information about a baby’s development, Life in the Womb also explains medical processes such as checks and scans.
Life in the Womb was awarded the 2014 World Summit Award-Mobile for its innovation in learning and education. In February 2015, it was honored at the WSA Mobile Global Congress in Abu Dhabi. The app was developed in Dublin, Ireland, by The Science Picture Company in collaboration with Redwind Software and in consultation with The National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin.
Key Features
- Week-by-week information about you and your baby through the 40 weeks of pregnancy
- Concise infographics explaining medical processes such as checks and scans.
- 3D rotations of baby at key stages of development
- Beautiful images, animations and interactive features showing your baby’s progress each week
Utility
A team of artists, programmers, doctors and writers created Life in the Womb app, with the goal to provide an entirely new educational experience for clinicians and patients. The app is very easy to use in the exam room, classroom or at home. Different features are accessible depending on how the user is holding their device. Holding an iPad horizontally displays all of the 3D visuals that are available for each week.
Users can navigate through each week by swiping their finger or by selecting a week from a handy menu. Turning the iPad vertically displays a combination of visuals and text for a rich hybrid experience.
Suggested Updates for Future Releases
The content of the app is written at a 12th grade reading level and above. Many narrations use scientific language and terms. While that makes the details quite interesting--and relevant context for the medical jargon is always given—users who's first language is not English or who are less educated will have a difficult time following some of the audio and text.
Images are Caucasian-normative; more ethnically diverse skin tones would make the app useful across clinical populations. Since the app was developed in Ireland, the metric system is used, as well as phrases customary to Irish culture (e.g., references to foods, and “minding one’s medications”).
Price: $4.99 iTunes as of 4/2015
