Novita Research Report January 1999 - Novita Children's Services

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Vocabulary Organiser – development of the program Rob Garrett Group Leader, R&D, Engineering & Support Melissa Bradley Marketing Specialist Angela Guidera Senior Speech Pathologist Bob Collinson 1 Software programmer 1 Colsoft Pty. Ltd. Objective Vocabulary Organiser is an innovative software tool for designing, producing and storing vocabulary dictionaries and worksheets. The software was developed by the Research and Development Department in collaboration with the Novita Speech Pathology Department (in particular, Jenny Faulks, who was the idea originator), in response to a demand for vocabulary management and teaching resources. It was developed for anyone who is involved in supporting users of augmentative and alternative communication systems. The objective was to validate that the software met the needs of the users within the organisation. Method The original version of the software was trialed by key stakeholders. Extensive feedback was sought, collated and used to specify software changes needed. Results Version 2.3 of the Vocabulary Organiser software was created with the following new features included: • Support for multiple vocabulary files; • Enhanced backup facilities; • User authentication and data security. Specification and modification of the vocabulary stored in the dictionary can be protected by password; • Numerous enhancements to speed up the entry and editing of vocabulary dictionaries; • Enhancements to the options available in printed output mode to create more useable teaching and learning aids; • Increased flexibility in graphic size with the addition of “Very Large” graphics option; • Ability to specify and save page margins to a specific report; and • Ability to create printed headings relevant to the contents of the dictionary file. The Users Guide and Help screens were also updated. A final positive validation of the software was achieved in October 2000. 28 Implications All of the regional offices now have an effective and usable copy of this powerful tool to efficiently support the clients of the organisation who use communication devices. Project completed in 2000 Novita Children’s Services Incorporated • Research Report January 1999 – June 2004
Vocabulary Organiser – enhancement and commercialisation Rob Garrett Group Leader, R&D, Engineering & Support Melissa Bradley Marketing Specialist David Hobbs Senior Rehabilitation Engineer Peter Wilkinson 1 Software programmer Sorin Buzilla 2 1 Contract 2 Better Software Pty. Ltd. Objective The move to MSAccess 2000 from the older MSAccess 2.0 software version will provide many tangible benefits, which would directly translate into a better Vocabulary Organiser (VO) product. Reasons for the move include the fact that Microsoft was no longer supporting the older version, as well as version 2.0’s inability to work correctly on the later 32-bit operating systems, such as Windows 2000 and XP. Upgrading to Access 2000, will allow for longer file name conventions compared with the older system that had the old DOS limit of 8 characters. Another reason for the upgrade is that the newer version of MSAccess was known to be more reliable. Method For much of its history, two programmers developed VO. As it moved from internal use to external customers, it became critical to ensure the software was maintainable by other programmers and had adequate error reporting capability. To assess this risk, Sorin Buzila from Better Software Pty Ltd was commissioned to perform a software audit. Sorin spent 3 days reviewing the code and identified 25 actions that were prioritised as “Immediate”, “High”, “Medium”, or “Low” actions to improve the software. The R&D Department identified all “Immediate” and “High” recommendations as priority actions. Industrial programming standards were documented by Sorin Buzila and used to specify the software programming requirements. In addition, all software changes were independently reviewed to ensure compliance with the documented standard. Results The newer version of Vocabulary Organiser (3.2) is compatible with Windows 2000/XP and the Novita standard computer operating system. Software coding Standards have been established for all software written in Visual Basic and Visual Basic for Applications. All changes to the software are now independently reviewed for compliance. A central website to record feedback and report problems can be accessed directly from the Vocabulary Organiser program. This website is universally available to all users who have access to the web. There is now one central list of issues enabling easier monitoring of the state of the program such as reliability statistics and requests for product enhancements. The new version of software now has extensive error reporting capability that can be simultaneously logged on the user’s computer in a simple text file. The website supports upload of files that will enable the log file to accompany any errors logged on the web site. The submission of an issue at this web site results in an immediate notification to key staff. 29 Implications The software conforms to industrial standards, is easily maintained, has increased reliability, now has error logging and can be effectively and efficiently supported independent of the location of the user. Project completed in 2003 Novita Children’s Services Incorporated • Research Report January 1999 – June 2004
Page 1 and 2: Research Report January 1999 - June
Page 3 and 4: foreword Novita Children’s Servic
Page 5 and 6: PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR PROJECT TITLE
Page 7 and 8: esearch evaluations (http://bluewir
Page 9 and 10: Clinical Research Selection Process
Page 11 and 12: Researcher Profiles Susan Bostock B
Page 13 and 14: Society for Augmentative and Altern
Page 15 and 16: Paediatric dysphagia and physical d
Page 17 and 18: Can typically developing preschool
Page 19 and 20: Handwriting of children who have he
Page 21 and 22: Now I can eat too: The impact of an
Page 23 and 24: School vocabulary in typically deve
Page 25 and 26: Unravelling handwriting: an investi
Page 27 and 28: Convergence of AAC and portable com
Page 29: Predictors of device abandonment: t
Page 33 and 34: Vocabulary Organiser - the addition
Page 35 and 36: Movement-to-m usic therapy David Ho
Page 37 and 38: Integrated control of wheelchairs &
Page 39 and 40: Toan Nguyen 1 Master of Engineering
Page 41 and 42: Mobile phone access via an augmenta
Page 43 and 44: Technological options for people wi
Page 45 and 46: Using product features to select ap
Page 47 and 48: Use of the Canadian Occupational Pe
Page 49 and 50: The prevalence of low back pain in
Page 51 and 52: Comparison of feedback conditions i
Page 53 and 54: Evaluation of family centred practi
Page 55 and 56: Motor and functional outcomes of ch
Page 57 and 58: Australian representation on ISO TC
Page 59 and 60: Development and delivery of an unde
Page 61 and 62: Rob Garrett Group Leader, R&D, Engi
Page 63 and 64: Evaluation and scoping of a movemen
Page 65 and 66: Resource allocation project Sonya M
Page 67 and 68: conference presentations Novita’s
Page 69 and 70: Australian Cerebral Palsy Associati
Page 71 and 72: DESIGN AND PRODUCTION CORPORATE PRO

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