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3.1.1. Stand-Alone

Much interest has been shown in stand-alone and independent use of ES shells and MM technologies for application development. Large numbers of successful applications of both types are now operational. Numerous ES-oriented references that report successful applications do exist. Similar references exist for MM-based systems. As Table 2 indicates, advantages of stand-alone architectures include availability of commercial tools, ease and speed of development, and independent maintenance. However, disadvantages include total lack of integration, double maintenance, and a lack of synergy. In the context of this chapter, these forms of system development represent a zero level of ES/MM integration.

3.1.2. Translational

The translational form is a variation of separate system development and use. Using this model (Figure 2), an application is developed with one tool (e.g., the ES) and, after translation, migrated to the other (e.g., the MM system). The order of development is driven by user needs and the desired or required form of the final system. Advantages of this Level 1 integration architecture (Table 2), like the stand-alone form discussed earlier, include availability of commercial tools, ease and speed of development and maintenance (after selection of the best system), and speed of delivery. Disadvantages include redundant development and the possibility that complete and accurate translation may not be possible, thus requiring retranslation. Also, there is limited synergy in this model, with the exception of the insights provided by the initial development.


TABLE 1
Examples of Pairwise Synergy
 
In using Rule mgmt. Text Graphics Still Motion Sound
Rule mgmt. Embed consultation requests in rule conclusions Incorporate inference results in text (immediate or delayed) Generate graphs using inferenced variables as data source Display still images based on inferred variables Display motion based on inferred variables Activate sound based on rule conclusions
Text Enable rules to manipulate text content; textual specification of rule set Incorporate one piece of text into another Integrate graphical screen with textual display Integrate still screen with textual display Integrate motion with textual displays Integrate sound with textural display
Graphics Specify graphic operations in rule conclusions Incorporate graphics into text (immediate or delayed) Superimpose one graph on another graph Incorporate graphics into still image Superimpose graphics onto motion images Integrate graphics and sound
Still Specific still identified in rule conclusion Incorporate still images into text Superimpose graph on/with still image Superimpose still image on or/with another Superimpose motion on still image Display still image with sound
Sound Specify sound operation in rule conclusions Attach sound to text Attach sound to graphics Attach sound to still image Attach sound to motion Integrate sound on sound
 
Adapted from Watabe, K., Holsapple, C.W., and Whinston, A.B. (1991). Journal of Computer Information Systems, 31(3), 2-8.


FIGURE 2 Models of software architectures.


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