0's & 1's old and new: where's the data?

Apart from the old website graphics I do feel like I've a handle on the pages themselves. The styling will be basic, but I now have some ideas from initial experiments and Drupal clearly doesn't disappoint regards printing and accessibility. I still need to check the HTML tags allowed on pages.

As to other ideas further down the avenue - the whine of activity here is prompting another: "Where's the DATA?".

This glaring omission and its ongoing transformation from apparent to acute is recognised from past experience and current attempts to conjoin programming, web and related tools. Using BBC BASIC in 80's it was easy to use arrays and basic file handling and then concoct 20-30 cases with about a dozen or so attributes. Most of them were personal details and basic demographics.

Now entering the real world: surprise-surprise MySQL is really powerful. What this means is if you have data to throw at MySQL then it will play ball with you (assuming you play by the rules). Reading about Ajax and PHP my book explores SOAP and web services. The examples of Google, Amazon, PayPal and others are a world apart in terms of the data they serve and the services that use and complement those flows. So here, surely 20-30 concocted cases are still the order of the day?

It depends of course on what I want to try to achieve. Who is the audience? Who is the main 'user'? Reading Moggridge's Designing Interactions and the contributors frequent recourse to user participation in design and development gives me two thoughts:

At the Barn there is a group of retired regulars (teachers?) who re-organise the furniture and settle down to attend to their well-being needs. As I read and they update each other on news, the wise-cracks flow and characters shine I'm wondering.... It would be fascinating to sit down with them one-by-one and check out their experiences in consulting with the health and social care team (whoever, wherever and how many that may be?). What would have helped them AND the professional(s)? What would help subsequently (TI:ME is always a key factor)?

The summary care record is a case in point - but is there another perspective on this? There is a literature that's for sure.

I've even wondered about approaching neighbours and scratching a non-personal surface or two. I'd need to properly formulate my questions, although a loose initial approach might pay dividends? After all - what is the problem that Hodges' model might help solve?

In the same way the internet increasingly provides for rich application experiences, expectations are rising. Can you hear it again...? There's a constant whine on this blog and it's the 'audience': that's the elephant in my PC and head. As per the introductory pages, Hodges' model can readily address four main audiences:

1. PATIENTS and CARERS (Ill-health) CITIZENS (Well-being, health prevention/promotion)
2. HEALTH and SOCIAL CARE WORKERS
3. STUDENTS (Specific educational context)
4. MANAGERS, POLICY MAKERS (Governance, Reporting)

If I ever do need it, test data isn't just my problem. There must be solutions out there....? Before I get carried away though - time for a KISS.