Interfaces Customisation

Most of the software offers in-line programming, either by in FORTRAN, or Visual Basic. Programming is a powerful tool in flowsheeting that allows the user to customise the simulation, or introduce its knowledge. Among applications we may cite the formulation of complex specifications, the transmission of information between different units, to express complex reaction rate expressions, built user simulation units, or prepare data for presentation, interfacing or post-processing. 

During the demonstration visit (interface 1) the body is used as a way for the decision-maker to experience the effect of the vibrotactile stimuli and customise the fabric structure. Similarly, the family member has a chance to experience interaction with the pillow in an introduction session (interface 3). When the pillow is used during the visit (interface 5), the exploration of the bodily somaesthetic qualities opens up opportunities for social interaction. Further, the vibrotactile stimuli patterns and haptic sensations have a direct relation to the movements of the body. This principle makes it possible for even people with limited cognitive capabilities to still have an activity... 

Software. One of the dominant requirements in the future generations of software is that the software adopt an open architecture. Traditionally, the word architecture has been associated with hardware, but its use in connection with software reflects the fact that a single vendor can neither anticipate nor supply all the needs of users. The central concept of open architecture entails well-documented, modular interfaces to system components. If vendors would adopt an open architecture, the benefits of purchasing commercial products could be realised and the user would retain the advantage of being able to customise and extend the systems according to individual needs. 

The recent installation of MACCS-II with the Customisation and DBMS Interface modules has provided the capability to interface chemical structures with ancillary data. After receiving training from Molecular Design Limited, the CDD staff and Corporate computer support staff developed screens and sequences to customise MACCS-II for the MSDRL environment, and to replace the current version of MACCS. An orientation program was prepared to acquaint the user community with the new facilities and commands. Technical assistance was given to convert, where necessary, the scientists project files. 

The optional DBMS Interface Module addition to the Customisation Module expands data access capabilities beyond chemical data to include related scientific information in general DBMS s. 

The capabilities of MACCS-II with its optional Customisation and DBMS Interface Modules are described below in terms of its facihties, MACCS menus, and application possibilities. 

MACCS-II with its Customisation and DBMS Interface modules can be tailored to the chemical-scientific database needs of entire organisations or individual research groups. Customisation features allow MACCS-II to treat applications expressed in 1984 and many applications that go beyond those. These applications include interfaces with database systems, scientific programs, and scientific instruments that are used in regulatory reporting, laboratory information, and inventory systems. Examples of some applications are as follows. 

The user interface of the HTSS system is controlled by a graphic-oriented interpreter language. This enables the user to customise the HTSS menu and to introduce new commands. 

Before a customised interfaee for a hand or foot ean be designed, it is neeessaiy for two interrelated issues to be resolved. The first is the captme of aeeurate 3D anatomical data and the second is to understand how the extremity will move and deform when interacting with the interface. 

Once the 3D data for an individital s extremity have been captured, it is not simply a process of inverting this shape to create the desired customised interface. It is likely that the scan (either direct or indirect) was taken while the subject was in a relaxed or passive position. When the hand is using equipment or the foot is placed within a boot, their external shape changes through both movement of the bones and deformation of the flesh. It is this active position that must be... 

For output, we provide several presentation languages, such that output in these languages can be constructed automatically (by rule-based translators). Each form of presentation can then be customised to the particular needs of one group of users. For example, we generate an overview diagram and detailed tables of information as part of tlie specification process but we have also produced Z texts as well as translations in other notations (SSADM dataflow and entity life histoiy diagrams). Section 6.5 describes tlie use of translation to interface to another toolset. 

Only when the synthesis script and the detailed characterisation of the individual steps are fully specified, the work can start to support this customised methodology with synthesis techniques and eventually with synthesis tools. Here, it has to be carefully weighed in each case whether a new technique or tool should be developed, or whether an existing tool can be reused in a new script tuned to another style. Actually, this reuse of tools in different scripts forms one of the main motivations for our common synthesis framework discussed in Section 3. Each tool is organised as a separate C or C-h-f programme, while the script itself is implemented as a standard Unix shell script. Only a textual user interface is available at present. 

The Mosaic system, developed by Jean-Marie Adrien at the University of Paris VI, is a typical example of a tool for implementing modal synthesis (Adrien, 1991). It provides a number of ready-made substructures such as strings, air columns, metal plates and membranes, as well as substructures for the simulation of actions such as bowing and hammering. Instruments are thus programmed by networking these substructures. In Mosaic terms, substructures are called objects and the interactions between objects are referred to as connections. A connection between two objects also acts as an interface between the user and the instrument for example, the connection between a bow and string provides the means for user-customisation of the parameters that drive the interaction, such as pressure, speed, etc. 

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