XID Product Information

XIDAuthoring System

Product Features

	View Data Set - Shows all of the data for any selected item in the database
	Edit Menu Structure - Allows changes in the structure and hierarchy of the menus
	Show Data Distribution - Shows the relative frequency of characteristics within the database
	Select Characteristic 'A' - Limits the database to those items with a particular characteristic
	Select Characteristics 'A' and 'B' - Limits the database to those items with both characteristics
	Select Characteristic 'A' or 'B' - Limits the database to those items with either characteristic
	Select NOT Characteristic 'B' - Eliminates items exclusively with the marked characteristic
	Select NEVER Characteristic 'A' - Eliminates all items with the marked characteristic
	Select NOT item '1' or '2' - Eliminates specific items from the database regardless of characteristics
	Show Marked Characteristics - Shows steps taken in the identification process
	Descriptive Item Text Fields - Author defined help text for each database item
	Item Graphics - Full screen photos or line drawings can be incorporated for each item in the database
	Context Specific Help Screens - Author defined help text for each characteristic and menu
	Characteristic Graphics - Photos or line drawings can be incorporated for each characteristic or menu
	Disappearing Non-Applicable Menus - Non-applicable menus and characteristics are invisible to the user
	List Unusual Characteristic - Shows the 18 most unusual characteristics of any item in descending order
	Triggered Pop-Up Taxa - Family, genus, and species are recognized and displayed in scientific databases
	Sequential User Reinforcement - The user is shown the number of remaining items after each step
	Directed to Page Numbers in Multiple References of Author's Choice - The author can reference the page number in up to 50 references of which up to 4 can be selected to be displayed with any database
	Analysis - Provides the user with a dynamic list of the 10 most efficient menus for the identification process based on steps taken thus far, ease of use, and items remaining in the database

Example Procedures

Following are three examples of attempting to identify a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from a database of 1,069 species, using different sets of three characteristics chosen by different students. Following the examples generated by the three students is an example of using the "analysis" function alone to accomplish the identification. The most efficient method of identification is to first select a few obvious characteristics and then use the "analysis" function to complete the process.

Student #1
Characteristic Chosen `Flower Color: Yellow` `# of Petals: >10` `Flower Width: 1.4 inches`	# of Species Remaining `433` `135` `38`
Student #2
Characteristic Chosen `Stem Cross Section: Hollow` `Juice: Milky` `Flowering Stem: Leafless`	# of Species Remaining `109` `16` `5`
Student #3
Characteristic Chosen `Leaf Length: 4 - 8 inches` `Leaf Arrangement: All Basal` `Leaf Margin: Lobed`	# of Species Remaining `533` `57` `12`
Analysis
Characteristic Chosen `Flower Color: Yellow` `Leaf Width: 0.8 - 1.6 inches` `# of Petals: >10` `Root: Taproot` `Flower Width: 1.4 inches` `Seed Windblown: Yes` `Juice: Milky` `Flowering Stem: Leafless` `Flowering Stem: Unbranched`	# of Species Remaining `433` `241` `75` `**50` `24` `13` `7` `2` `Identified: Dandelion`

* Not technically correct but often interpreted in this manner so the data reflects both possible interpretations.
** The message "Family Identified: Asteraceae" appears on the screen at this point.

Note that although many very technical characteristics are used by the program, those chosen by the analysis function are very similar to those chosen by the students. This is due to two factors: (1) the characteristics chosen by the analysis function are weighted for ease of use, and (2) this function does not mandate a selection, but instead, presents a list of the ten best choices.