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The Integral Scientist - A Summary of Future Plans Future versions The Integral Scientist are under development! Many new and exciting features designed to make the program easier to use and an even more useful tool for scientists will be added to the new versions: ── General Interface Design and Help System ── CUA (Windows style) user interface ── DOS, Windows 3.0 & HP95 versions. Mouse support in all features in both Windows and DOS. Expanded help system ── True hypertext user guide. Transfer numeric values from/to any part of the program. ── Periodic Table and Element Information Database ── Comparative element property searching ── Element property graphics. User selectable properties in basic window ── Added element properties. Alternate periodic table styles. ── Molecular Mass Calculator ── Percent composition of substances ── Component element mass of substances. Fractional percent in solution of substances ── Isotope mass calculations. Standard molecular formula entry rules. ── New Chemical Equation Balancing Function ── Chemical equation balancing ── Intermediate evaluation during entry. Up to twenty elements allowed in an equation. Enter either equation side first or change sides at will. ── Solvent Properties Database ── Improved display of solvent properties database. Expanded database of solvents ── Additional solvent properties. Search for solvents matching certain properties. ── Chemical Solutions Calculators ── Additional solution formula selections. Dilution calculations incorporated into Solutions Calculator. Direct access to Units Calculator for convertible values. ── Mathematical Formula Evaluator ── Evaluate variables in interrelated sets of formulas. Calculators for trigonometry, mensuration, and electrical formulas. Additional calculators available ── Algebraic expression evaluator. Calculator compiler for creating user defined formula families. ── Units of Measure Calculator ── User defined compound units of measure ── User entered units. Discrete entry of compound unit components. Multiple windows of long unit lists. Full function calculator operation on unit values. Chained addition and subtraction of units within categories. Additional categories of measure in units calculator. ── Et Cetera Scientific Information File Viewer ── Scrollable ETC file list ── File selection by highlighting. Additional data in the ETC viewer. Links from ETC data tables to other data and calculators. ── Flashcard Element Learning Drill ── Define your own set of elements for flashcard drills. User defined flashcard selections and properties. View extended information screens for current element. ── Scientific Dictionary and Glossary of Terms ── Look up words and meaning of terms. Find terms by matching phrases and words in definitions. Quickly find definitions for terminology used in the program. Add words and definitions as needed. Obtain additional "dictionaries" and "glossaries" for speciality areas. Switch to and from the dictionary from any area of the program. ── NIOSH/OSHA Chemical Hazards Database ── Hazardous properties for over 800 commonly handled substances. Substances indexed by primary name and by synomyms. Locate chemicals by physical description and/or exposure symptoms. The long list of new features above is a result of many comments, suggestions and requests from users like yourself. Many of the features are currently in development and definitely will be included in future versions. Some are proposals and concepts that are under consideration. We would like your comments and suggestions on the items which are of interest to you to help guide the development of future versions of The Integral Scientist. We are currently planning a Version 2.0 shareware release to the general public in the late 3rd quarter of 1993 with one or more interim versions prior to that date. However, YOU can qualify to preview new features NOW. Select "Preview ... Early Evaluation" at the main menu for more information. Browse through the descriptions for changes and improvements to The Integral Scientist contained in the summaries for each of the sections. Some of the ideas are already completed and ready for "Early Evaluators" review, some are definitely in the works, some are just in the planning stage. Become an "Early Evaluator" and help us plan the future of The Integral Scientist! ƒ1 Help Context sensitive help and hypertext user guide. The Help system for The Integral Scientist as well as the main control screen and over-all design of the interface is entirely new in version 2.0. Some of the new features are: CUA (Windows style) user interface ── DOS, Windows 3.0 & HP95 versions. Mouse support in all features in both Windows and DOS. Expanded help system ── True hypertext user guide. Transfer numeric values from/to any part of the program. The new Help system for future versions of the Integral Scientist will be similar in style and function to the Windows 3.x help system; a complete help document with context sensitive entry points. In the User's Guide hypertext links will permit navigation through the text by following the connections of related information. In addition to the table of contents and chapters, an outline mode will permit the user to scan an outline of the User's Guide and move at a click or a keystroke to the desired section of the Guide. The new Integral Scientist will be available in both DOS and Windows 3.x versions. All graphical features of the Windows version will be available to DOS users who have graphics video systems. For users with limited computer power or non-graphics video, a text only mode of display will still be available. The user interface for all versions will conform to the industry standard known as "Common User Access," as represented, (but not fully implemented,) in this demonstration program. The much more tightly integrated system will allow the transfer of any displayed numeric data to any input field in the system. The new Integral Scientist will be both more powerful and even easier to use. A special version of the program is planned for the Hewlett-Packard 95LX palm-top computer! ƒ2 Elements Periodic table & element property database. The computerized periodic table will still be a major feature of the new Integral Scientist, however, it will be accessed through the "Elements" function rather than as the main screen. In addition to a new look in DOS graphics and Windows a number of other improvements are planned: Comparative element property searching ── Element property graphics. User selectable properties in basic window ── Added element properties. Alternate periodic table styles. Two important new features will make the element information database more useful. A comparative search feature will allow users to locate elements by properties. For instance, by invoking the new search function and providing the appropriate search parameters multiple factor searches can be performed. The elements which have a spectral line within 2nm of 400 and a melting point greater than 1800 K could be selectively located, for example. In addition, the next major release will feature bar-graph depiction of periodic properties and later versions will display more complex graphics of the element properties. ƒ3 Molecular mass Atomic mass sum & percentages of a chemical formula. The molecular weight calculator is much more powerful. In addition to its new ability to handle standard hydrate notation and unlimited levels of parenthesis, the new calculator contains several new features: Percent composition of substances ── Component element mass of substances. Fractional percent in solution of substances ── Isotope mass calculations. Standard molecular formula entry rules. During formula entry the element frequency may be previewed. Upon completion and calculation, the display now includes both total molecular weight of the compound and a report of frequency, percent composition, and the component mass of each element. Enter the weight of a sample and the weight of each element in the sample is calculated and displayed. Once a substance formula is entered, the concentration in solution may be calculated for either the total substance or for any element or ion of the substance. The element or ion may be selected by highlighting or by entering from the keyboard. The calculation involves the molecular weights, the solution volume, concentration, and amount of substance. Choose the variable for which to solve, supply the two remaining knowns and solve for the unknown. These new features are available NOW to registered users who elect to participate in our new early evaluation program! ƒ4 Equilibrium Balance chemical equations. A brand new function in the next version of The Integral Scientist will be equation balancing! Chemical equation balancing ── Intermediate evaluation during entry. Up to twenty elements allowed in an equation. Enter either equation side first or change sides at will. The user may first enter either the left or right side of an equation using standard notations. After entering the first side, a listing of each element and its frequency is displayed. To begin entering the second side, press the '=' key. At any time, a press of a key will update the element list left and right side frequency count. The inequalities are highlighted in the frequency list or, the word 'Balanced' is displayed if the equation contains the same frequency of each element on either side. The user may change sides at any time and make changes or corrections. Although this utility is limited to element frequency balancing and does not test molecular validity it can make balancing chemical equations much easier! This new function is available NOW to registered users who choose to participate in the development evaluation of The Integral Scientist. For details, see the "Preview ... Early Evaluation" selection. ƒ5 Solvents Comparative database of solvent properties. The Solvents Selector function has been completely redesigned and features a number of improvements which make it a more useful tool: Improved display of solvent properties database. Expanded database of solvents ── Additional solvent properties. Search for solvents matching certain properties. The display screen of the Solvents Database has a new look to make the information more readable. All properties are displayed in a single data view window. As with the Element Database, the list can be searched for entries matching a property range. Fields for safety and handling precautions, toxicity levels, appearance descriptions, and combination miscibility factors, are added and additional solvents are listed. The new Solvent Selector interface is typical of several new functions and is designed to provide maximum readability of the data for the selected item as well as easy browsing through the various records. The new information database interface used for the Solvent Selector is shared by the Et Cetera function, the Chemical Hazards function and the Scientific Dictionary and even by the Extended Information portion of the Elements database. This standardized tool, while versatile enough to be customized for the special needs of each section, provides a unified set of commands throughout the 'information' sections of the program. ƒ6 Solutions Solve variables of chemical solutions. Although the code which runs the Solutions Calculator is completely new the appearance and operation is virtually unchanged. However, the new system has a number of improvements: Additional solution formula selections. Dilution calculations incorporated into Solutions Calculator. Direct access to Units Calculator for convertible values. The units calculator can be invoked to convert units as desired. Almost twice as many formulas are included at the first level, reducing the need to expand formulas by passing values. The separate dilutions calculator has been eliminated and dilution calculations are integrated into the Solutions Calculator function. A scrollable information window provides more detailed descriptions of each formula in the calculator. The currently selected formula is always displayed. The new Solutions Calculator will available to registered users through the development evaluation program. Registered users of the Integral Scientist will receive information on the requirements and benefits of participating. ƒ7 Formulas Solve multiple variable formulas from a library. This new function adds a powerful new capability to The Integral Scientist: Evaluate variables in interrelated sets of formulas. Calculators for trigonometry, mensuration, and electrical formulas. Additional calculators available ── Algebraic expression evaluator. Calculator compiler for creating user defined formula families. The Solutions Calculator is pre-programmed to handle the variables of chemical solutions, but the same functionality is available in the Formulas function which builds calculators from an expandable library. An initial screen presents the available calculators for selection. The user can scroll through a list, highlighting the calculator to load. The screen displayed when a selected calculator is loaded is similar to that of the solutions calculator. The user can select the unknown and knowns, permute the equations, and recalculate with different values just as in the familiar solutions calculator. The shareware version of the new Integral Scientist will include a library of several calculators featuring additional calculations for chemistry, an electricity/electronics calculator and area and volume calculations. Registered users will be able to obtain additional calculators via mail or modem. Also available to registered users is a compiler with which new calculators may be created. This new function is available SOON. For more information, return to the main menu and choose the "Preview ... Early Evaluation" selection. ƒ8 Units Units of measure calculator & reference guide. The new Units Calculator is substantially improved. User defined compound units of measure ── User entered units. Discrete entry of compound unit components. Multiple windows of long unit lists. Full function calculator operation on unit values. Chained addition and subtraction of units within categories. Additional categories of measure in units calculator. The redesigned interface looks and feels more like the Solutions Calculator. Although the internal calculating method is different, the commands and method of operation are designed to be similar to the Solutions Calculator, Formulas Calculator and even the concentration calculations built into the new Molecular Mass calculator. A new method of displaying categories with more than one screen of conversions makes it possible to have any two sections of a conversion list on the screen at one time. Compound units such as velocity (distance over time) may be entered as individual components from the corresponding lists. You may even construct new compound units; 'furlongs per fortnight' for instance. As one of the most complex parts of the new Integral Scientist, the revised Units Calculator will be one of the last to be available for evaluation. Registered users of the Integral Scientist who participate in the registered users evaluation program, however, will be able to use it well ahead of its availability to the general public. ƒ9 Et Cetera Data screens of useful technical information. The new version of the Et Cetera data file display function is entirely re-written but retains the same general approach to presenting data from files which can be created or modified by the user. The new interface complies with the 'Common User Access' style which is the framework for the new Integral Scientist. The CUA style of interface is the look presented in this preview program and familiar to many people as the basic style behind most Windows programs. In addition to the new user interface, several other improvements are being implemented: Scrollable ETC file list ── File selection by highlighting. Additional data in the ETC viewer. Links from ETC data tables to other data and calculators. The most noticeable change in the Et Cetera function is in the file access screen. The available ETC files will be presented in a scrollable list. The file to view can be selected by highlighting and loaded for viewing by pressing the [enter] key. When a file is displayed for viewing the page selector menu at the bottom of the screen will show only one page title per line but each can include a full line of description. The Et Cetera file viewer is actually one of four implementations of the same utility also used by the solvent database, the dictionary, the NIOSH database and even the extended information portion of the element database. @ƒ2 Flashcard Periodic table learning drill. Although The Integral Scientist is intended primarily as a tool for working scientists, one current feature is tailored for students of chemistry. The Flashcard function presents element information as a random series of drills. Several improvements to the Flashcard function will make it an even more useful tool for learning about the elements and the periodic table: Define your own set of elements for flashcard drills. User defined flashcard selections and properties. View extended information screens for current element. In addition to the ten predefined levels, a user defined selection of elements can be added and used to drill for a specific selection of elements. Any of the three basic fields can be included or excluded from the custom set and an additional field can be added with user defined questions and answers. As an additional educational aide, the extended information screens and property graphics can be accessed during a quiz session. Students needing to learn element facts can quickly educate themselves using the Flashcard function of The Integral Scientist. By the time version 2.0 is released, however, the Flashcard function will be removed from The Integral Scientist and be a seperate optional add-on program. When installed, the flashcard function will become an integral part of the program, but will be expandable through the option of loading additional sets of "flashcard decks" available as files via modem or on disk. @ƒ8 Dictionary Scientific dictionary of useful terms. Another brand-new feature in future versions of The Integral Scientist is an electronic dictionary. With this feature users of the program will be able to: Look up words and meaning of terms. Find terms by matching phrases and words in definitions. Quickly find definitions for terminology used in the program. Add words and definitions as needed. Obtain additional "dictionaries" and "glossaries" for speciality areas. Switch to and from the dictionary from any area of the program. The dictionary function will be included in future versions of the Integral Scientist program with a sample "dictionary data file" of terms used in The Integral Scientist. Registered users will be able to obtain additional sections of listings by modem or on disk. By adding the dictionary data file to the IS directory and running an installation procedure the additional information is added to the dictionary. Users also have the option of adding their own listings to the dictionary file. Any word listed in the dictionary becomes a "hot key" whenever it is used elsewhere in the program functions or Users Guide. Wherever you are in the program, select a "look-up" function and words that are referenced in the dictionary will be highlighted. Click on a highlighted word and you'll see its dictionary definition. This new feature to be added in a future version of The Integral Scientist will be available to registered users participating in the "Early Evaluation" program for some time before it will be released to the general public. @ƒ9 NIOSH NIOSH & OSHA chemical hazards database. Government regulations as well as common sense dictate that persons handling potentially hazardous chemical substances be aware of exposure limits, saftey precautions and emergency procedures. Printed government documents are cumbersome to use. The Integral Scientist will include in future versions a computerized version of the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. With this new feature the program will have: Hazardous properties for over 800 commonly handled substances. Substances indexed by primary name and by synomyms. Locate chemicals by physical description and/or exposure symptoms. The 800 plus substances listed in the pocket guide will be indexed not just by primary name but also by all synomyms and trademark names as listed in the guide. Regardless of by what designation a substance is labeled, it can be found quickly with the Integral Scientist version of the NIOSH guide. In cases where an unknown substance is encountered, the computerized version of the Guide provides a substantial advantage over a printed document. By selecting from lists of terms describing physical appearance, color, odors, and state, symptoms of exposure, and chemical behavior a list of substances meeting the selections will permit appropriate worst case measures to be taken. This large database of information will be provided to shareware users of The Integral Scientist as a limited sample selection. Registered users will receive the entire listing from the most current Pocket Guide. Of course, registered users who elect to participate in the "Early Evaluation" program will be the very first to take advantage of this important feature. Preview new features with the "Early Evaluation" program. The extensive list of potential new features and improvements described in these previews of functions will eventually culminate in version 2.0 of The Integral Scientist, currently scheduled for release in the late third quarter of 1993. Meanwhile, many of the features will be included in various 1.x releases. Most 1.x versions will NOT be released as shareware but instead be distributed on a limited circulation basis only to registered users who elect to participate in an "Early Evaluation" program. If you have suggestions for improvement of any function of the Integral Scientist program, or even an idea for a totally new feature, you can become a cooperative partner in the future development of the program by registering and participating in the "Early Evaluation" program. Participants in the evaluation program will receive frequent updates of "in-process" versions of the Integral Scientist. As individual functions are added to the program, pass in-house testing and "beta testing" they will be made available to the "Early Evaluation" program participants for review and comments. Participants will actually guide and assist in the design of the program. Participation in the "Early Evaluation" program is unlimited and open to all registered users. The only requirement is the return of an evaluation for each test version before being eligible to receive the next. In addition to the "Early Evaluation" program we are also seeking a few volunteers to be true "Beta Testers" These people will actually participate in the debugging and bullet-proofing of the new versions before they are made available to the "early evaluation" group. Register your copy of The Integral Scientist now and choose to particpate in the "Early Evaluation" or "Beta Tester" program and you'll always have the very latest improved version of the Integral Scientist. You will receive full details of both programs with your registered copy of The Integral Scientist. For information on registering your copy of The Integral Scientist read the file ORDERFRM.ETC using the ETC file viewer function.