#13. More About Presenting The Questions.

Human/Computer interaction is soft-coded.
Communication is dynamic. Languages change, word meanings change, people change, and medical practices change. Developing a system that is not preconceived to change must mean that either change has not been considered, or that the system has been preconceived to become outdated. Therefore, the best method for the computer to communicate with end-users is subject to change and advancement, along with technology and research into end-use of the individuals who interact with the system.

Nevertheless, we need to start somewhere, so we can accept our own limitations, while making some assumptions about these first few end-users to be studied:

• That they can read.
• That they can use the English language.
• That they have access to computers that are connected to the World Wide Web.
• That they have basic understanding of how to manipulate a computer, keyboard, and mouse (or other third-key device).
• That they have no handicaps that would compromise the efforts of this study.

So, while these opinionated assumptions are enough to get started, we must keep in mind that our opinions have been presented without an evidence base, so we must return to them. These opinions must simultaneously trigger our responses to further the researches into end-users to develop human/computer communication techniques that are more efficient than our first efforts will allow.

Interface tracking is hard coded.
Yet, we can begin by presenting our first interfaces that include the aforementioned criteria:

• That each individual end-user will be identified and instantiated by the first question (For example, "What is your name?").
• That each subsequent interface will be directed at each individual end-user.
• That each subsequent interface will be will be organized and presented in series for best comprehension.
• That each subsequent interface will be in the form of a question, regardless of communication technique.
• That each individual end-user will be able to change their questions.
• That the computer system will record these changes.

It will be important for us to develop a method to track these interface components as they are selected, compiled, amended and further developed. Not only will these interfaces provide a means for the human end-users to interact with their databases, these interface components themselves will become the objects of research; they must be labeled in such a way that a computer can compile them.

Therefore, these initial questionnaire components (let's refer to them as Question Cards) will have assigned alphanumeric serial numbers which may, or may not be visible to end-users. (I can think of no reason to hide these serial numbers from end-users, except that their visible presence could distract them from focusing their efforts of efficiently interacting with the system. That could change; but for now, let's hide these serial numbers in invisible metadata, off of the viewing screen.)