The Virtual Clipboard
Abstract:
Project Linden is designed to provide a full service solution to manual data collection. For the case of an observational duty (such as a psychologist working with a patient), it replaces the usual wooden clipboard with a Tablet PC. Using wireless technology and web services, all of the system’s components allow the data collected to be synchronized with a central database. Because of our strong use of web services, there are no geographical restrictions on the system. Given these features, the system creates a global model for information analysis, to contribute to further research of data in its applied focus.
The system consists of four major components: Clipboard (a data collection application), Form Builder (which allows users to build and implement their own custom forms), Report Builder (which allows reports to be made from the data collected), and Linden Administrator (an administration utility which monitors system users and components). These applications are streamlined in such a way that no maintenance is involved, and computer illiteracy isn’t a barrier. To make the collected data available to those interested in doing further research, we have exposed the data in a confidential fashion (by removing sensitive patient information) using web services and XML formatting.
What is most exciting about this system is that we have designed it to be a framework. We have created a set of APIs that anyone can use to build their own extension of the framework. Example problem domains include marketing research, land surveys, psychiatry, Microsoft judging tally sheets, there are very few limitations on how extensible the framework is. For our example extension of the framework, we worked with VCU’s Autism Center. Project Linden will tremendously increase their efficiency, and will make a huge contribution to researchers of autism worldwide.
Achievements:
- Project Linden competed against and beat the following schools in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup software design competition in 2004: MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, JMU, George Mason, Stony Brook, Fordham, Boston University, University of South Carolina, Georgia State, Washington University, University of Illinois.
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