The BALM Primer App

The BALM Lungs as Tort Law Primer is an innovative legal education mobile app that utilizes visual and tactile features to provide an introductory tutorial for students as well as lay persons. The Lungs as Tort Law Primer compares the lungs in the human body to tort law in the body of law. As in human physiology, the left side of the human body is analogous to the left side of the body of law and vice versa on the right. Like the study of human anatomy, the BALM provides the user with a progressively invasive exploration of the individuals, society, and body of law that constitute the body politic The Splash Screen introduces the user to the BALM’s brand. The Home Screen establishes the “Human Body as the Body of Law” metaphor to be the model’s functional framework. The Body Screen expands the metaphor to include society in general. The Region Screen reviews the individual and examines the sum of both human and legal body parts. The Lung Screen compares the specifically named organ within the organ systems of the human body to the legal organs operation within their systems in the body of law. Lastly, the Organ Screen portrays each section of human as well as legal organ parts. Blue tutorial bubbles appear on each screen to provide navigation. Tapping the white “x” in the upper corner of a screen or bubble removes the content. Tapping the blue tutorial bubbles progress the user through the displayed screen. Tap the figure once and italicized words appear above it. Tap any italicized words or terms and definitions appear. Tap the figure twice and the next screen displays. Tap the “X” on the upper right corner of the screen and the previous screen will display. Tapping “Reset” on the Region and Organ Screens restores the initially displayed screen. The “i” and “o” buttons at the bottom of all but the Splash Screen, provide definitions and direct access to the Organ Screen.