Reflection when initiating systematic literature review

Here I am in the library again, the only location that I can do work: initiating systematic literature review for my directed study. Here is the wiki(http://hinf490.pbworks.com) for it

The following is my reflection:

What is the information need for laboratory data?

What is the audience? Audience matters in the area because expert knowsledge and computer literacy affect the cognitive process of the information processing.

What is intrinsic to raw clinical laboratory data?
- mostly numeric
- unit matter
- time matter
- some canned text, some free text
- some image
- some sound
- usually flat structure
- few have hierrchary or network when combo-test is ordered, e.g. complete blood count
- some calculated, e.g. total creatinine clearance
- context matter, depended on personal / family health history.

For my systematic review, should I exclude medical images? and just focus on multi-variants?

Hide in Dungeon for six months!

I must say that I had horrible summer. Taking six courses and work at the same time is not fun at all, particularly complicated with the exhausting co-op job applications and interviews. Thus I hide in the sweating computer lab night and day. I realized how much I missed the lovely summer nights, lantern, travel, photography and pottery!
With my favorite fall color, I found my norm again today. I will come out of the dungeon!

Which cell phone in Canada have hearing aid compatibities?

Beside microphone volume, and sound clarity, radio frequency interference from the cellular phone with hearing aids is a huge obstacle for hearing aid users.

Some cell phone create a magnetic field that can be coupled with a telecoil-equipped hearing aid while some other fails. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) has mandated that cell phones have to test for hearing aid compatibilities and report microphone ( M ) rating and the telecoil coupling ( T or t - coil ) rating. The scale for hearing aid compatibility ranges from one to four providing four possibilities: shaky ( M1 or T1 ), fair ( M2 or T2 ), good ( M3 or T3 ), and excellent ( M4 or T4 ). Canada does not have this regulation.

In preparation to get myself a new cellular phone, to replace the one that I lost, I asked telus, who still carries my contract, for a list of dealer who have workable demo. So I can go and test them with my hearing aids before spenting money. The link of dealer that the representative sent me was not accompanied with information of which dealers have workable demo. I went to dealers and they have dummy phone only. As a person with hearing impairment, I have difficulty phoning the dealers one by one to ask if they have workable demo. Plus, I am not allowed to "test" the phone without actually buying the phone, which is very inconsiderate.

I did some internet research and find that both motorola krzr and BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230 smartphone have hearing aid compatibility (HAC) of M3, which is great.

However, the dealer was unheard of this terminology.

Due to the bad experience with cell phones, I was not willing to commit more of my money before having trials on them. Therefore, I chose Motorola krzr, which is a "pay and talk" phone on sale. However, I would like to make use of the text-based communication (email, messaging) which is offered by BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230, and are much more useful for me, if I can have trial on them first before being committed for another 3-year contract.

Oh, there are some links I found from my internet research.

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Page on how to buy hearing aid compatible phone

http://widhh.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-buy-hearing-aid-compatible.html

Motorola's page on HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY

http://direct.motorola.com/ens/accessibility/Hearingaid.html

Experience No Interference by Using Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phones

http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/experience-no-interference-by-using-hearing-aid-compatible-cell-phones-514101.html

Hearing loss group complains to FCC about iPhone:
They want Apple to make it usable for those with hearing aids

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9037999

iPhone and M3/M4 hearing-aid compatibility?

http://theappleblog.com/2007/02/26/iphone-and-m3m4-hearing-aid-compatibility/

I strongly suggest that Telus mobility put a summary page on their web site about hearing aid compatibility (HAC) on their line of phone. Since they are one of the two CDMA providers in Canada, hearing-aid users turn to CDMS providers for their portable communication needs. (Yes, GSM providers are rule out, because of the interference of the phones with hearing aids). Please be considerate for hearing aids user. They are a growing consumer population and willing to spend money on accessories to make their phone works for them. People who posted on the above website have buy bluetooth device, conducing neckloops, captioning service, and visual voicemail. By introducing hearing aid compatible phone and making their informationeasier to find, the business of Telus or Bell business will expand despite the depression. 

UVic Library Reflection - A pair on bench under Full Moon, the first

UVic Library Reflection - A pair on bench under Full Moon, the first night that the fountain is refilled in 2009.
Originally uploaded by annchou

I returned from the Craigdarroch Ceremony last night. When I walked past the library. Something special caught my eyes. My beloved reflection of the library was back. UVic must decided that the winter was surely over and refilled the pond again. It must be the first night that the pond/fountain was filled. The reflection was perfect without the running fountain. When I checked fountain this morning, the fountain was on, and no more perfect reflection.

Deliver Simplified Skype Project - Again!

Well, today, we got it installed and run on a Dell laptop that we lend it to the requester to try. Originally it is to be delivered two weeks ago. However, somewhat silly, we didn’t notice that the requester had a mac until we are at her home, long after 2 months of development! So to save time, we are lending her computer instead of finding another binding with will work with mac. The principal user in the request is going to use a window-based ASUS Eee Top 15.6-Inch Touchscreen PC, nonetheless.

Identity, skype with own self X 3

Identity, skype with own self X 3
Originally uploaded by annchou

A self-portrait when I am testing on my software - Simplified Skype Interface.
There are so many of me.

It is interesting in this self-portrait particularly it shows different faces of me, suggesting a split personna. :P. In this picture, there are own two computers and webcams but three monitors, because my desktop is dead. It would be more interesting if I have more webcams.

Ocra lanterns at sunset

Ocra lanterns at sunset
Originally uploaded by annchou

My two Ocra Lanterns, Aqua, and Alcian Blue are floating on Trout Lake.
And they are lit for the first time. The lake is perfectly still. I like the tranquility given by the lanterns and the reflection, the sunset, and the sky lantern at the back.

Mirror Self-portrait in Bathroom

Mirror Self-portrait in Bathroom
Originally uploaded by annchou

I find this interesting as there are 3-fold reflection in the bathroom:
me, the toilet and the clothes basket, and the reality!
I look serious as I have to hold my breathe for the 3 second exposure.
While I am very pleased with the illuminated curtains by the afternoon light, the light level in the bathroom is low.
And interesting, when I browse for other mirror self-portraits in flickr, most people look serious. Can somebody tell if it is for the same reason?

Making ecological footprint

Hand-on initiatives, no-waste, non-toxic waste to make footprint for sustainability at Brenda's dwelling.

Ann Chou's Lantern - Watering Tank(2006), Floating Plane (2007)

Ann Chou's Lantern - Watering Tank(2006), Floating Plane (2007)
Originally uploaded by annchou

This is my lawn sign.

Watering Tank (2006) is a 6 ft wide, 8 ft long, 6 ft high paper-and-bamboo lantern, compliment with three water droplet lantern. The lantern is candle lit, and hanged on the tree.

Floating Plane - Ann Chou's Lantern (Card)

Floating Plane - Ann Chou's Lantern (Card)
Originally uploaded by annchou

This is my note card.

Floating Plane (2007) is a 6.5 wide, 6 ft long, 3 ft high floating lantern, surfaced with paper and laze, structured with bamboo, and mounted on buoyant board. . The lantern is candle lit, with the exception of the eyes, with are LED lit.

Simplified Skype Interface Demo

The goal of this project is to design and implement a simplified interface for Skype which will enable the target users, the senior with demenia, to use Skype as a video-communication tool with the family.
We will install the software in a touch screen computer, such as ASUS Eee Top 15.6-Inch Touchscreen PC, to provide a more intuitive interface, particular for the user with no computer experience.
This interface developed with QT-toolkit and its python binding. www.canassist.ca

Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO-BaokqE-c

Current co-op project

My current co-op project is developing a simplified interface for seniors in long term care to use Skype. There are lots of other potential for this projects, such as tele-health, connecting people with special needs (e.g. with brain injury, or deaf/hearing impaired).
My ambition is to make it as universal as possible.

Bhutanese chili

Bhutanese chili
Originally uploaded by annchou

I prefer using natural light.

Therefore the window light in the February afternoon is my best friend because it is directional and warm.
In this picture, Sonam was preparing a Bhutanese lunch for both of us before the photo session of her in national dress. What a nice model :> (Although it was already 2 pm, both of us rose up late on Saturday). I asked her for permission to picture her while she was cooking.

I kept observing how the golden light flow on her and captured the best photo opportunities. I like how the chili was highlighted.

sonam puzzling in the Shrine

sonam puzzling in the Shrine
Originally uploaded by annchou

In a late afternoon in Feb, I asked Sonam to dress in Bhutanese National dress. When this picture was asked, Sonam explained the meaning of the objects in the Shrine to me.

Excitement in the first Nature and Travel Photography Field Trip

twopeacok266
Originally uploaded by annchou

At Beacon Hill park...

To my excitement, right at where we started our field trip, there were free ranching peacocks , apparently flew out from the petting zoo (which closed in winter) across the road.
The peacocks were very complying and allowed me to try different shooting angles, as the part one of class exercise. Among all angles, I preferred the low angle pointing up to sky. This angle gave an illusion as if the viewer was a worm getting into a kingdom of peacocks. This illusion was strongest in my "Two peacocks" photo.

peacokbench49
Originally uploaded by annchou

The peacocks walk to the flower beds to have breakfast. This gave me more excitement to my pointing upward exercise, because the flower bed completed my favorite triad: adding interesting foreground to perfect golden light in morning, and the colorful object.



Feather of Peacock
Originally uploaded by annchou

Fresh start at CanAssist

source: http://www.canassist.ca/news-items

01.16.2009

Spring 2009 Co-ops

We are delighted to announce that five new co-op students have joined the CanAssist team for the spring semester: Ann Chou, a 4th year student doing a combined major in Health Information Science and Computer Science, will work on our Skype Communication Project; Li Zhou, a graduate student from the Department of Electrical Engineering, will support the development of our Wireless Motion Sensor (WISP) technology; Matt Holland, in his final term of his Electronics Engineering Technology Program at Camosun College, will work on a number of electrical engineering projects; and Mechanical Engineering majors, Nigel WebbBrandon Fry (each on their second co-op term with CanAssist), will work on the development of a variety of mechanical engineering devices. We look forward to working with these bright young students and are excited about the outstanding contribution they will undoubtedly bring to our program.