Bencao Gangmu: An Interactive E-Book Revolutionizing Traditional Chinese Medicine

Transforming Ancient Wisdom into Modern Experience

Bencao Gangmu, written in ancient Chinese, has long been regarded as a treasure in traditional Chinese culture. However, its complex language and structure have made it difficult for ordinary people to comprehend. Recognizing the growing popularity of Chinese medicine worldwide, Hao He saw an opportunity to simplify the book and make it more accessible to everyone.

The unique strength of this E-Book lies in its transformation of the ancient text into a visually captivating and interactive experience. Through beautiful illustrations, animations, and interactive functions, users can now explore the world of Chinese medicine with ease and enjoyment.

The realization of this design involved meticulous planning and collaboration. The team, led by Hao He, sketched out the structure and interactive functions of the E-Book, creating a storyboard for development. Detailed background images and characters were then painted, bringing the book to life visually. The program environment was developed, and extensive testing and bug fixing were carried out to ensure a seamless user experience.

Designed for Android devices, the E-Book has specific technical specifications to ensure optimal performance. With a minimum requirement of 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, 1.2GHz CPU, Android 4.1 or higher operating system, and 1GB RAM or higher, the E-Book can be enjoyed on a wide range of mobile devices.

Interacting with the E-Book is intuitive and user-friendly. Users can tap on illustrations to navigate through different chapters and swipe left or right to explore various sections in detail. Each chapter offers hints and interactive content, allowing users to delve deeper into the world of Chinese medicine. Additionally, a unique feature allows users to create their own herbal prescriptions by drawing on the screen, adding a playful element to the learning experience.

The development of this E-Book was not without its challenges. Combining art, design, and technology required careful coordination and expertise. Adapting the E-Book to different screen resolutions and operating systems posed additional difficulties. However, the team's dedication and innovative approach overcame these obstacles, resulting in a seamless and visually captivating product.

The Bencao Gangmu E-Book project commenced in November 2013 and was completed in December of the same year. The first version was launched at the Samsung Store in China, marking the beginning of a new era in the accessibility and understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.

Hao He and his team conducted extensive research to ensure the E-Book's effectiveness and appeal. They interviewed mobile device users to understand their interaction preferences and incorporated visual elements and animations to enhance engagement. The result is a fun, interactive, and meaningful learning experience that caters to the needs of a modern audience.

This groundbreaking design has been recognized with the prestigious Iron A' Design Award in the Mobile Technologies, Applications, and Software Design category. The award acknowledges the E-Book's well-designed, practical, and innovative approach, meeting professional and industrial requirements while providing fulfillment and positive feelings to users.