ON-LINE DOCUMENTATION AND TUTORIAL S FOR AN INTEGRATED GRAPHICAL AND DAT A ANALYSIS SYSTE M DAVID M . STEI N GRAFSTAT is a software application system containin g a rich and integrated set of tools for the scientist o r engineer that is used widely in IBM . It runs on an IB M System/370 processor. It allows a user to ¢ ¢ ¢ explore data interactivel y create graphic s analyze data using functions of applied statistic s from Harvard University . His interests include the modelling and analysis of computer system s performance . He has recently been involved with th e design and implementation of software systems and tools for technical professionals . GRAPHICAL ENTRY OF WEATHER FORECAST S R . K . R . TRAFFOR D Our work has as its aims the development of a state-of-the-art software application system, th e understanding (through implementation) of easy-to-us e interfaces, and the investigation of tools and technique s for interactive statistical and graphical data analysis . The effectiveness of a software system such as GRAFSTAT dramatically increases if it can be used no t only by data analysis professionals, but also by other s such as engineers, managers, and planners . These users , while familiar with the immediate technical environment and the data, are usually not formally trained in the applicable statistical methodology . A valuable feature of modern statistical software, then, is the potential fo r the user to effectively learn this methodolgy as needed , on-line . Through tutorials and dynamically execute d examples, the correct use and interpretation of result s obtained from algorithms and analytic procedures ca n be made clear . In GRAFSTAT we have developed a system componen t that allows a user to flexibly peruse on-lin e documentation as well as to study and experiment wit h on-line tutorials and dynamically executed examples . This system has a number of novel features, such as it s close integration with applications, and utilities that ca n be employed by a user (e .g . a teacher) to develop hi s own tutorial materials . This presentation discusses GRAFSTAT, its interactiv e interface, and on-line documentation component . I t describes the design of the system and shows b y example how it is used : the user is presented with a variety of messages, prompts and information in a n integrated and consistent way. It describes a set of tools for preparing, modifying and formatting the text, and a programmable system allowing an author to contro l dynamically what gets presented, based upon the user's behavior . David M . Stein David Stein is a Research Staff Member at the IBM T .J . Watson Research Center, New York . He holds a Ph .D . SIG CHI Bulletin 56 The Atmospheric Environment Service is the branch o f the Canadian government responsible for studying an d monitoring atmospheric phenomena . One of it s responsibilities is the production of weather forecasts . The Forecast Research Division of AES is currentl y developing a prototype system to render a variety o f weather forecasts in digital/graphical form . It is our intention to demonstrate what we have accomplished to date on the graphics features of this prototype . It i s hoped that this demonstration will illustrate some ne w treatments of relatively conventional graphics input/output techniques . A typical method of producing a weather forecast, unti l now, begins with the forecaster drawing a series of weather depiction charts, for a series of projectio n times, on a scale map of the region . Each chart shows the predicted pressure and temperature fields (isobar s and isotherms), as well as areas of cloud an d precipitation, fronts, highs and lows and so on . The forecaster then refers back to these charts to deduce the predicted weather within a number of pre-define d forecast areas . He then composes a forecast for each o f these areas . The main function of the prototype weather depictio n system is to assist the forecaster in drawing a digital version of his weather depiction charts. One of our goals is to provide the same ease, speed and accuracy as han d drawing . The package also includes the ability to analyse th e digitized charts, in order to deduce the predicte d weather values within the standard forecast areas . This information is then saved in tabular form, for use a s input to a variety of other applications . The principal application for the tabular data will be a PROLOG-based package, which will automaticall y generate English and French language textual forecasts . This will free the forecaster from manual composition, a task which currently consumes an estimated 60% of hi s time . He will presumably be able to concentrate mor e skill into the weather depictions . A prototype of th e forecast composition package is also being developed b y the Forecast Research Division . The graphical input package currently provides th e ability to draw a variety of meteorological entities, suc h as isobars, isotherms, areas of cloud and areas o f precipitation . A digitizing tablet is used . Interactio n October 1987 Volume 19 Number 2

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