Abstract :
A microcomputer has been used to assist in solving a laboratory pattern-matching problem. The paper describes the computerisation of the process, in which the matching of characteristic electrophoretic patterns is used to identify unknown fungal species. The initial need for computerisation and the requirements imposed on such a system by human factors are identified. The system model and user interface is developed, and one or two fundamental implementation issues are briefly considered. The system has proved useful in practice, and its development from the previous manual system serves as a case study in the area of computerisation. It has been implemented on an IBM PC, an Apple lie and on a DEC VAX.
Keywords :
biology computing; chemistry computing; computerised pattern recognition; electrophoresis; human factors; microcomputer applications; user interfaces; Apple IIe; DEC VAX; IBM PC; computerisation; electrophoretic patterns; fungal species; human factors; implementation; laboratory pattern-matching; microcomputer; species identification; system model; user interface;
