What Are the Different Types of Assistive Technology Software?

Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) originally refers to a large comprehensive software development environment composed of various computer-aided software and tools to support MIS development. With the development of various tools and software technologies , Perfect and continuous integration, and gradually transform from a purely auxiliary development tool environment to a relatively independent method. ^[1]

Since the 1940s

There are two types of technologies involved in the CASE system. One is the technology that supports the software development process itself, such as supporting protocols, design, implementation, and testing. The CASE system using this type of technology has a long development time, and many products have been on the market; the other is a technology that supports software development process management, such as supporting modeling and process management. This type of technology is not very mature, the CASE system using this type of technology will call the CASE system of the previous type.

From the perspective of the generation of the CASE system, there is also a special CASE technology, that is, yuan. CASE technology. Meta-CASE technology is the technology used by generators that generate CASE systems. The generator can be used to create CASE systems that support software development process activities and process management. Such CASE technologies are still in the exploration stage. ^[3]

(1) Function of CASE

In general, the CASE tool should not have the following functions.

Users can create diagrams required by each stage of software development through CASE.

Collect information about the objects on the chart and the relationships between the objects in order to build a complete information set.

In a central repository, the semantics represented by the diagrams should be stored instead of the icons themselves.

Check charts according to accuracy, consistency and completeness.

Enable users to describe conditions, loops, CASE structures, and other structured program structures in diagrams.

Enable users to represent different aspects of an analysis or design in multiple chart types.

Implement structured models and designs to be as accurate and consistent as possible.

Coordinate the information on multiple charts, check the consistency of the information, and centrally check the accuracy, consistency and completeness of the information.

(2) The role of CASE

To sum up, CASE has three major functions, and these functions have fundamentally changed the way software systems are developed. The role of CASE is shown below.

An interactive development environment with fast response, dedicated resources, and early error checking.

Automated many links in the software development and maintenance process.

through a powerful graphical interface. Achieved intuitive programming. ^[2]

The integration mechanisms of CASE are:

Platform integration, tools run on the same hardware / operating system platform.

Data integration, the tool operates using a shared data model.

means integration, the tools provide the same user interface and interaction.

Control integration, after the tool is activated, it can control the operation of other tools.

Process integration, the system embeds knowledge about software processes, and assists users to start various software development activities according to the software process model.

The development of CASE technology depends on the development of software engineering methodology. At the same time, the development of CASE technology promotes the further development of software engineering methodology. Future software engineering should be "methodology + CASE technology". Moreover, as the role of CASE technology in software engineering continues to expand and deepen, in the future software engineering field, CASE technology will likely occupy a dominant position. ^[4]

Computer-aided software tools provide automatic graphical tools for generating charts, screen and report generators, data dictionaries, extended reporting tools, analysis and inspection tools, code generators and document generators. Most computer-aided software engineering tools are based on one or more popular structured methods. Some are starting to support object-oriented development. Generally speaking, a complete computer-aided software engineering environment mainly includes the following contents:

(1) Information repository;

(2) System modehng and simulation tools;

(3) System analysis and design tools;

(4) Programming tools;

(5) Testing and OA tools;

(6) Professional management tools (Project management tools);

(7) Re · engineering tools. ^[5]

Compared with other management information system development methods, the CASE method has the following characteristics:

It solves the direct mapping from the objective world object to the software system and supports the entire process of system development.

The automatic detection method greatly improves the quality of the software.

Each part of the software can be reused.

Simplified analysis and design charts and program writing.