Ideas of delabs Technologies

i had tough time filling a online form. Here are some points, many know already, but new ones need to be instructed again. Especially so in customer service online forms or apps.

Make all the fill up text boxes ample, not cramped. Message area needs to be wide and long. Not an excuse of a square, where you can only say "Hello". Do not insist on all details an Email is enough.

If the form has validation or capthca, may it have memory. The user need not fill everything all over again for one error. Make validation intelligent and after three submits, take what customer gives, even if it appears to be a riddle.

Most of us, even me when i made/sold products, do not like the "Return". This is not healthy, Customer support must be proactive, enthusiastic and like some say Fanatic. A brand survives and sells itself only on Genuine Customer Support. Just communication or Half-Hearted attention will not work for very long.

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Just like an electronic circuit is a graphical representation of what will be on the PCB. Firmware development should be a 2D graphical diagram of what goes into eeprom.

An example is the Ladder Logic software that can program 80C51 types in a Fanuc, Allen Bradley or Siemens PLCs. Then many people can do at least restricted firmware programming for some embedded solutions.

Build a DMM or digital multi meter

Visual Embedded RAD. This is more like code snippets inserted in code in the background when user drags and drops a Hardware Function or Program Method. The Environment is Visual, but Code is compact as same modules or blocks used. There is no C or Intermediate Language. Visual to Binary Hex Direct.

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This is an idea of a costly way of protecting your software IP, We now have Flash USB thumb drives going upto 100Mb, You now need to make an ASIC for a thumb drive which manages flash storage of 100Mb and also does some simple logic and maths, all this inside the thumb drive. - 2003

ASIC, SOC, CPLD, DSP and FPGA

Now put the software you make within the custom thumb drive and make it into an partial java based application server. So even copying or reading RAM will not expose the program binaries on PC. Now you have a custom thumb drive with embedded application software to sell just like objects, and cannot be copied. This thumbware you sell will be bought by the user and all he needs to do is plug it in the USB port and a icon will come with a balloon in the notification area and start using the new thumbware you bought. Remove thumbware the application will close, take it wherever you want.

Image created around 2012



The thumbware will not be copied as ASIC is custom and some computation is within the thumb and major computation is in the PC.

Data Interface - Printer Port, Virtual Instrumentation.

Then you can make it OS independent, as it will be a embedded java application, the xml database can be within the thumb itself and an encrypted copy on HDD.

Now with Cloud Computing and Saas, you can have part of the Software Elements as Webware. This makes the software more copy-proof and also helps backup your data if needed as a service. Then the biggest advantage is, that it is available on any type of device like Tablet or Phone. - 2014

delabs Open Computing Ideas - 2003 - Open Source

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The GUI or graphic user interface must be of three types one for the 'novice' another for the 'expert' and lastly one for the 'hacker', a programmer should not assume that other users think like him. There needs to be 3 levels of GUI.

Some software which has a simple wizard for simple tasks. also programs must work downward 2 processor and OS versions if you want the product to be usable by many.

Web Computing Blog of delabs

Good multiple high color icons. install with path option, add icon on desktop option. settings independent of registry. a compiled html help or *.chm. file. a good toolbar with tooltips. shortcuts of main functions. wizards for new users. tabbed advanced options. if possible skins. compact program size. when i see these features. then i know it is a real good product. - 2002

Below is an imaginary UI i whipped up a decade ago to explain this usability. The secret is "no menus". We need buttons all over the place, tabs are good. Advanced Controls hidden or visible on demand. Then a persistent, never hidden "settings icon" with a prominent "reset to defaults". Lastly a UI password admin lock, to prevent any alteration by public users on community/office consoles, machines and gadgets. - see dapj gadgets

Image added around 2010


Too many Knobs, Dials, Switches and Buttons Cluttering the Front panel of an Instrument or Web-application or Software can overwhelm the user and he may not be able to use it properly or may even lead to misuse. So..... we need to use things like euro-controls that was done for Philips TV etc. or Sensible Wizards like in some software . The Advanced options should be available for those who need it. - 2004

delabs Open Computing Ideas - 2004 - Open Source

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