Wills Eye Manual Pocket PC and Desktop versions By Dr. Christine Hubert and Claude Hubert Introduction This is my second review of Wills Eye Manual for Pocket PC. Since then Skyscape has added a great feature: the desktop version. I also had a chance to test the link between different medical software Skyscape provides, which I was unable to test on my previous review. Wills Eye Manual is one of the most well known ophthalmology books, one used by residents and ophthalmologists for quick and easy access to specialty medical information in the clinical practice. Skyscape doesn t write the content but converts the printed version into a great portable reference one can carry on the Pocket PC, the laptop, or both. Interface Both the Pocket PC and the desktop versions are very similar in structure and design, as well as usability. The interface of the software is simple, clean, and easy to use, with a nice design. This time I was able to test new features, links between different Skyscape titles, and the desktop version. The desktop version contains the same medical information as the Pocket PC version, only easier to read when at home or in the office because of the larger screen. The big advantage of the Pocket PC version remains its portability You can take it with you anywhere you go. Both versions have the same look and feel with most menu options being the same and available as shortcuts on the toolbar. In most of the sections below I ve included screen images from the Pocket PC version and the desktop version so you can see the similarities between the two for yourself. Here are the quick reference cards captured from Skyscape s web site:
Pocket PC Index View Desktop Index View
Pocket PC Table of Contents View Desktop Table of Contents View
Pocket PC Topic View Desktop Topic View Menu Options The following images show the various menu options available, and as most are self explanatory, we will only cover those that need some explanation.
Pocket PC File Menu Desktop File Menu
Pocket PC Edit Menu Desktop Edit Menu Annotations Allows you to add text comments to any topic in the book. On the Pocket PC, you can also add voice comments. Bookmarks These allow you to quickly go to specific topics from the bookmark menu.
Pocket PC View Menu Desktop View Menu Fit to screen (Pocket PC only) - When this option is enabled (i.e. there s a checkmark next to it), the text flows so that you only need the vertical scroll bar to view the text. When it is disabled, the text appears as it would in the book you ll need to use both the vertical and horizontal scroll bars to view the text. Personally, I prefer it enabled. TOC - Takes you to the table of contents. Index - Takes you to the index.
Pocket PC Tools Menu Desktop Tools Menu History - Lists the topics you ve recently viewed, allowing you to quickly navigate back to something you were looking at before. SmartTabs - These are the category buttons that appear on the right of the screen in the topic view. Here you can change their order, their title, and the label displayed on the tab. Set Skyscape Server (Pocket PC only) - Allows you to specify the internet address of the Skyscape server and log in with your username and password used for updates.
Toolbar Pocket PC Help Menu Desktop Help Menu At the top of the window, there is a toolbar made up of 8 buttons. The function of each button is as follows (they are listed in the order they appear): Back - Takes you back to the previous location in the book.
Pocket PC Back Icon Desktop Back Icon Index - Takes you to the main index.
Pocket PC Index Desktop Index
Pocket PC Table of Contents Desktop Table of Contents TOC - Takes you to the table of contents.
Pocket PC Table of Contents Expanded Desktop Table of Contents Expanded Bookmark - Brings up a list of your bookmarks. By simply taping one of them, you go directly to it.
Pocket PC Bookmarks Desktop Bookmarks History - Brings up a history of topics you ve visited. By simply taping one of them, you go directly to it.
Pocket PC History Desktop History Link - Brings up a list of other books you have installed. If you re on the main index and you select another book from the link, it opens that book. If you re in a topic and you select another book, it will take you to related topics in the book you selected. I tested this link with another Skyscape book Evidence Based Medicine in Ophthalmology and it is useful as it can help you find related information on the topic among all the Skyscape titles you ve installed.
Pocket PC Link Desktop Link If it doesn t find a related topic in the other book it gives you a warning but still gives you the option to open that book if you choose to (here we only show you the Pocket PC screens).
Link No Related Topics Found Link Switched to Linked Book Library (desktop only) - Takes you back to the main Skyscape Menu which is a window with 2 tabs, one containing the desktop links to the installed Skyscape software, and the other to the Pocket PC versions. You have another tab on the far right where you can set preferences for the SmartUpdate, check for updates, register products, or go to your account. The lower left corner contains a small menu with only 3 options, each with a single option: App Which lets you quit the application View Which lets you refresh the display Help Which lets you display the About window
Library Icon Library - PC books
Library - Pocket PC books Library - Settings My account (desktop version only) - Takes you into your Skyscape account in your web browser
Dekstop My Account Toggle Fit-to-Screen (Pocket PC version only) - Toggles the fit-to-screen feature on or off.
Pocket PC Fit to Screen On Pocket PC Fit to Screen Off Wireless Update (Pocket PC version only) Allows the user to check for updates.
Pocket PC Wireless Update Dialog Using the Wills Eye Manual You can get to any topic using the table of contents and opening the appropriate topic by taping on it or by using the main index, entering the first few letters of a topic, then taping the appropriate topic from the list displayed. There is also an index of medication referred to in the book: taping on a medication brings up a list of the topics where that medication is mentioned, and taping on a topic takes you to that topic. Once a topic is displayed, you can view any of the categories of information for that topic by clicking on the appropriate SmartTab. SmartTabs vary from book to book, but in the case of the Wills Eye Manual, the SmartTab categories are: Tab GS S D E W T F Category General/Symptoms Signs Differential Diagnosis Etiology Workup Treatment Follow-up
If one of the above categories is not applicable to the topic displayed, then the corresponding tab will show an x. In the images below, you can see the Etiology does not apply for Acanthamoeba as it is implicit. These images also show that you can change the order of the smart tabs to suit your preferences. Pocket PC SmartTabs Order Desktop SmartTabs Order There are two ways to select a category: simply tap on the appropriate SmartTab, or if you don t remember what the labels stand for, tape the little downward facing triangle just above the SmartTabs, and that will bring up a list of the categories fully spelled out. Again, simply tap on the appropriate category to select it.
Pocket PC SmartTabs Desktop SmartTabs To view topics related to the current topic, simply tap the first icon to the right of the topic s title (an eye on the Pocket PC version and a rounded arrow on the desktop version). This brings up the list of related topics; simply taping on one of them takes you to it.
Pocket PC Topic Desktop Topic Want to add your own comments (both versions) or even record a voice note (Pocket PC version only)? No problem. Click on the pencil next to the little downward facing triangle that is just above the SmartTabs or select Annotations from the Edit menu and you ll be in the annotation entry window. From there, simply enter any text you want.
Pocket PC Annotation Entry Windows Desktop Annotation Entry Windows On the Pocket PC version, tapping on the little icon of a person and a speaker (the first one to the right of topic s title) allows you to record a voice note or play it back. When you tap it, a little voice recorder toolbar appears. You can move this toolbar anywhere you want on the screen by pressing and holding on the three little bars on the left of it and dragging it where you want it.
Voice Recorder Toolbar Voice Recorder Toolbar Moved To delete a voice note, you tap the little icon of a person and a speaker that is crossed out (the 2 nd icon to the right of the topic s title). It asks you for confirmation before deleting it. Taping the last icon to the right of the topic s title (a blue X on the Pocket PC version or a white X on a red background on the desktop version) exits the annotation screen and returns you to the topic.
Pocket PC Topic Desktop Topic The two double arrows (left and right) respectively take you to the previous or the next topic. Some topics have an outline. In those cases, you ll have a link to the outline at the top of the topic, and the outline will be at the bottom. Clicking on one of the links in the outline takes you to the appropriate location in the text.
Pocket PC Link to Topic Outline Pocket PC Topic Outline Shortcomings One area that is an issue for me is SmartUpdate by default every time you synchronize you Pocket PC it attempts to update your library. I tried to configured this feature so it asks me before checking and before downloading updates and to only do it every 10 days, but it seems to do it every time I connect my Pocket PC to my laptop (without asking) which slows down the Pocket PC s synchronization. The idea is that you would have the latest version of the books in your library, but as these do not change that often, I personally would prefer to choose when the updates are done. Summary In the medical field it s important to stay abreast with current information. Skyscape not only makes that possible, but it makes that information available in an approach that is simple, elegant, and works well. The interface in both the desktop and the Pocket PC versions is clean, simple, and practical. The advantage of the Skyscape electronic books over paper versions is that the content is portable, searchable, can be bookmarked and annotated, and is linked to other reference books, even from different publishers. The cost of books is reasonable as in most cases it s close to the cost of the paperback version of the books, plus when you buy the mobile version of a book, you get the desktop version free. As I said in my previous review: Well done!
Score Design: 9 Usefulness: 10 Value: 10 General: 10