Date: Mon, 6 May 1991 12:52 EDT
From: LOBSTER@northeastern.edu
Subject: This is a HC2.0 Stack for frame grabbers, a/d's, Feel free to post it. To: wayne@alw.nih.gov
X-Envelope-To: wayne@alw.nih.gov
X-Vms-To: IN%"wayne@alw.nih.gov"

This file contains the Laboratory Toolbox and It's associated help stack.

The LaboratoryToolbox is a Hypercard Stack which originated as a tool for teaching laboratory computing. It implements an object oriented "Laboratory Notebook" structure for the acquisition and management of sensor based data within a laboratory environment. The LaboratoryToolbox Stack is organized to support hypothesis testing. The home stack spawns Project stacks which organize the information and data objects which support the test of a hypothesis. Each Project Stack can spawn Experiment cards which organize the information and a set of Trial cards of a particular method for testing the hypothesis. Each Trial card organizes a set of Data Objects which support or trash the particular method of testing the hypothesis. 

An Extensible Data Dictionary
The LaboratoryToolbox only operates on Data Objects which have been defined in a Data Dictionary. Each Data Type defined in the Dictionary is either supported by the Instruments, Viewers, Handlers and Editors of the Stack or by applications accessable from the stack.

An Experimental Database
Laboratory Toolbox operates within the framework of a set of Project Stacks. The Project stack consists of a Project Card, A Chronology Card, A PathList card, a set of Experiment Cards and for each Experiment Card a set of Trial Cards. As Data Objects are added to each trial they utilize or add to paths in the PathList card

An Extensible Set of Instruments
Instrument cards implement a set of virtual instruments which perform data acquisition functions to control VCR's, Aaaps and Data Translation Frame Grabbers and GW Instruments Analog Interfaces 

An Extensible Set of Handlers
Handler cards control serial line peripherals, VCR's and CamCorders. 

An Extensible Set of Viewers
Viewer cards support display and review of table, analog and image data as well as videotapes.

An Extensible Set of Editors
Editor Cards support display and alteraton of acquired analog and table data as well as some signal processing and statistical operations.

Joseph Ayers, Associate Professor
Marine Science Center,
Northeastern University,
East Point, Nahant, MA 01908


Attachment converted: HD80:LaboratoryToolbox.sit