Masters Degrees (Computer Science and Informatics)
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Browsing Masters Degrees (Computer Science and Informatics) by Author "McDonald, T."
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Item Open Access A comparative study on users’ responses to graphics, text and language in a word processor interface(University of the Free State, 2006) Beelders, René Tanya; Blignaut, P. J.; McDonald, T.English: The word processor or some form of editor-based application has become an integral tool for the many people who rely on computers on a daily basis. As such it has a wide and varied user base and must cater for a very diverse user group. Due to the heavy reliance on the word processor it is essential that it delivers pleasurable and efficient interaction to its users. Since its inception, the word processor has displayed the ability to evolve to continually exploit the increasing capabilities of technology. This study focused on furthering the improvement of the word processor usability for a subset of South African word processor users. Specifically, it concentrated on the impact of graphics, text and language on the usability of a word processor. Graphics were incorporated into the interface by means of inclusion of the icons currently found in the Microsoft Office package, which have been accepted as the industry standard, and the development of an alternative set of icons whose usability could be compared to that of the standard icons. Text was included in the interfaces in the form of menus and tooltips as well as text buttons which replaced the afore-mentioned pictorial icons and contained no graphical depiction of the associated function. The impact of language on the usability of a word processor was viewed strictly in terms of bilingual users and was achieved through translation of the text buttons, menus and tooltips into the predominant languages of the area. Comparative user testing was conducted through implementation of a scaled-down word processor application which could accommodate interchangeable interfaces and easy administration of preset tasks. Representative users were then required to complete a series of tasks on their respective pre-assigned interface, which conformed to one of the following general interface configurations: a. An interface using either set of pictorial icons and excluding both menus and tooltips, thus containing no language component. b. An interface in their first language, achieved through use of the text buttons, menus and/or tooltips. c. An English interface, where English was not their first language. A set of usability measures was identified which allowed for the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of the users to be compared between the different user interface configurations. These measurements were: a. the score achieved for the test, based on a built-in difficulty index assigned to each task; b. the satisfaction experienced during interaction with the application; and c. for each task, the: i.time, ii.number of actions, iii.number of errors and iv.ratio of correct and incorrect answers Analysis of the user testing found that no particular interface configuration exhibited increased efficiency, effectiveness, learnability or satisfaction and that users were able to adapt to a changed interface with ease once they had become accustomed to the word processor environment. Therefore, the final finding of the study was that provision of an interface in a bilingual user’s first language neither significantly contributed nor detracted from the application’s usability. Similarly, neither of the pictorial icon sets nor the text buttons exhibited a significantly heightened level of usability. Therefore, none of the interface configurations could be recommended as the most usable. However, a number of recommendations concerning the usability of a word processor were proposed based on both the analysis of the tasks and observation of user interaction. Finally, based on user performance for each individual task, an icon was identified which appeared to be the best and most applicable for that function. The final recommended interface, the usability of which must still be empirically established, consisted of a combination of standard icons, alternative icons and text buttons.Item Open Access A comparison of different approaches towards a computerised information system for primary health care in the Free State(University of the Free State, 1996-11) Blignaut, Petrus Johannes; McDonald, T.English: This study is undertaken in the light of the current importance of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and the SA government's commitment to better primary health care (PHC) for everybody. Primary health care services in South Africa should be rendered as effective and complete as possible with the manpower available. The government should therefore have exact knowledge about the current health situation in the country in order to make pro-active provision for better health services in the areas that need it most. Nursing management should thus have access to periodical reports regarding the incidence of epidemics, certain notifiable diseases, the death rate, general housing conditions and much more. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the service providers should capture and process statistical data accurately. This study firstly analyses the current situation with regard to data capturing, processmg, presentation and utilisation. The analysis refers to the manual system of patient carried records, tally sheets as well as the available infrastructure. Nursing management in the Free State has a long term vision to implement a database system to service all fixed and mobile clinics. A complete patient record will be kept by the system and the complete clinical history of a patient will be available at each consultation. With such a system all the regular and ad hoc reports can be processed easily and accurately. This study firstly analyses the current situation with regard to data capturing, processmg, presentation and utilisation. The analysis refers to the manual system of patient carried records, tally sheets as well as the available infrastructure. Nursing management in the Free State has a long term vision to implement a database system to service all fixed and mobile clinics. A complete patient record will be kept by the system and the complete clinical history of a patient will be available at each consultation. With such a system all the regular and ad hoc reports can be processed easily and accurately. This study focuses on the process of computerising pnmary health care services. Some theoretical background on systems analysis and development are provided and thereafter three alternative approaches towards computerisation are proposed and investigated. For each of these proposals a prototype system was developed. The first prototype is based on a patient record approach and includes a complete set of health indicators as well as other demographic and clinical data. The second prototype is based on a minimum data set that leads to more user-friendly system. Thirdly a prototype system that is not based on a patient record but on head-count-approach was developed. This system· resembles the current manual system of tally sheets. The three alternatives are compared with regard to the issues of practicality, flexibility, ease of use, accuracy and completeness of statistical reports and efficiency of time utilisation. It is concluded that the flexibility of a patient-record approach, a_lthough more time-consuming, is preferred to a head-count approach. Furthermore, the ease of use of the s~cond alternative in a developing country with mostly computer illiterate nurses makes it a much more feasible approach than a more comprehensive system. Ways in which a computerised system can be implemented in an environment with limited hardware resources are also investigated. The study concludes with a proposed model for the computerisation of primary health care in the Free State.Item Open Access TCPlot: a network management tool to detect and graphically display faulty TCP conversations(University of the Free State, 1994-10) Kotzé, D. J.; McDonald, T.Afrikaans: Waar hoevlak protokolle die gebruiker afskerm van onderliggende probleme in die netwerk, is dit vir die netwerkbestuurder juis nodig om vroegtydig bewus te wees van sluimerende probleme. Alhoewel daar hulpmiddels, in die vorm van netwerkbestuurspakkette, bestaan om horn behulpsaam te wees met die identifisering en ontleding van netwerkfoute, is hulle dikwels ontoereikend. Bestaande netwerkbestuurspakkette maak tot 'n mate voorsiening vir die ontleding van verkeer op 'n netwerk. Waar 'n enkele verbinding egter as 'n geheel beskou moet word, word verslae van alle pakkies op die netwerk as voldoende beskou. Die verantwoordel ikheid vir die ontleding van hierdie verslae bly die van die netwerkbestuurder. Hierdie tesis beskryf die ontwikkeling van 'n program wat die moni tering en ontleding van 'n enkele TCP gesprek op 'n Ethernetnetwerk moontlik maak. Deur die identifisering van foutiewe verbindings te vergemaklik en die grafiese voorstelling daarvan moontlik te maak, lewer TCPlot 'n bydrae tot netwerkbestuur.