Platform

This project is being developed primarily for Desktop PC, but the client has expressed an interest in having it operate on mobile as well. Developing for mobile using Unreal is technically possible, but may not be entirely feasible. Generally it seems better to develop a mobile application using Unreal first, then increase the scale in order to redevelop for PC or console (rather than start with a more powerful platform and then try to port to mobile).

When surveyed, current University of Aberdeen anatomy students expressed a preference for this to be developed as a browser-based app for MyAberdeen (VLE software based on the Blackboard system), followed by a mobile app.

Platform Security
From a security standpoint, an app accessed via MyAberdeen would be ideal. That way, University of Aberdeen staff could restrict access to only current anatomy students at the university. The mobile app is much more problematic. In order to secure it so only authorised users could access it, Aberdeen IT Services would have to assist us and give us access to the Aberdeen student login system. There is no way that they would even consider this at present, given the potential security risks. If this project were to be developed further and become a fully funded University of Aberdeen project, then it might have the credibility required to make them consider it.

Technical Specifications
If this software is to be useable as a demonstration/teaching tool it must run on the PCs used by lecturers in Aberdeen's Suttie Centre. As a rule, these PCs have 8GB RAM, but no GPU or Nvidia.

From a technical standpoint, developing for browser places many constraints on the software. To function effectively the models would have to be thoroughly optimised, which is difficult when using photogrammetric models - they are inherently high-poly (it is impossible to be both fully optimised and photorealistic). It is a possibility, but for the immediate duration of this project it would be far simpler to develop for desktop PC (assuming the restrictions above).