We find that MS-DOS Kermit version 3.12 works ideally with adaptive technology devices. While most PCs are equipped with Ethernet connections to the UNIX machine, serial and modem connections are also in use and work well with the VI interface. The applications are written in a fourth generation language called Ochre. Fourth Generation Languages are now commonly used for the design of business and database applications. 4GLs allow a more humanly readable program to be written and then convert this into thousands of lines of low-level code which is executed by the database management system behind the scenes.
Ochre allows programs to be quickly prototyped.
Rapid prototyping is a method of application design which involves creating several prototype versions of the software during its development. Because we have been covering such a lot of new ground in our user interface development, rapid prototyping has allowed testing with adaptive technology users and devices at very early stages. This has been very effective. This clear separation of business functionality from user interaction has enabled us to eliminate duplication of programming in the development of two discrete user interfaces. It also offers us the option of adding new user interfaces in the future without requiring major alterations to the program.