Questions in eclipse

 Last Friday 9th I had a Zoom chat for 30 mins, regards Hodges' model with faculty in the USA.

We touched upon:

• background to Hodges' model
• courses taught across the water and interests
• overlaps, inc. person-centered care - socio-technical
• informatics & literacies
• maths/logic

As an outcome it was suggested I forward some questions I'm currently of Hodges' model. Questions that for me, are challenging, put me in the dark, and may not even be valid?

Going through my draft notes I picked out 20, beginning with the working title:

Hodges’ Model as a mathematical object and relational ontology:
category theory or category mistake?

1. Can it be argued there is what amounts to a care locus - that can 'locate' person-centredness?
   
   
2. Can the model's domains be seen as functions?
   
   
3. Are the domains placeholders?
   
   
4. Is there a case to test, and if logical implement co-domains (e.g. parity of esteem)?
   
   
5. Are there other 'structures' in Hodges' model,  for example L-shaped forms, that is relations that involve three domains and (seemingly) omit one?
   
   
6. Are there practical - case studies - that can be associated with such structures?
   
   
7. Can Hodges' model be considered as a single conceptual space (Gärdenfors), or a series of four? (blog posts)
   
   
8. Can Hodges' model be used to identify and apply threshold concepts (Meyer & Land)? (blog posts)
   
   
9. Can we argue that the structure of Hodges’ model as defined by the axes extent, provides and invites inverse relations?
   
   
10. Is Hodges' model as a structure only (a template) equivalent to an empty set (empty set as an initial object)?
11. Is this a mathematical analogue (being neutral) to a practitioner's unconditional positive regard?
    
    
12. Taking its axes and four (care/knowledge) domains can Hodges' model be reduced to a graph?
    
    
13. If Hodges' model acknowledges/incorporates Cartesian duality, are there Cartesian products?
    
    
14. In these Cartesian products are critical operations, e.g. relating to psychotropics - physical health; eating disorder - physical/mental health; complex emotional needs - policy (evidence-based care)?
    
    
15. If the model is inverted, mirrored ... what follows: is the structure - function - consistency retained?

    
    
16. Is Hodges' model 'closed' in comparison with Buzan's (open?) approach to mind-mapping?
    
    
17. There is an 'equation of time': is there an 'equation of care'?
    
    
18. Thought experiments: (semantic distance... cognitive linguistics)
    
    

    Which concept (INTERPERSONAL :: SCIENCES) is closer to the ‘INDIVIDUAL’ axes; which is closest to the ‘GROUP’ (SOCIOLOGY :: POLITICAL)?

    
    

    Which concept (SOCIOLOGY :: INTERPERSONAL) is closer to the HUMANISTIC axes; which is closest to the MECHANISTIC (SCIENCES :: POLITICAL)?

    
    
19. Role of 'types' in Hodges' model - that is, patient / model as a whole as objects (with identity)?
    
    
20. What significance can be gleaned given commonality between several mathematical terms, e.g. group, object, (co-)domain and Hodges' model?

I can no doubt structure - group these questions, and I've not picked out many concerned with Hodges' model as a set, or, as yet, those venturing into category theory. I am wondering, what the commutative law might tell us about holistic, integrated care, and parity of esteem when applied through Hodges' model? Also refining 3-4 case examples to explore and illustrate the same?

While it is maths that prompts this diversion, perhaps ultimately health care disciplines can determine its own formal approach that can produce its own context-sensitive rules, that straddle mathematics/logic and the humanities?

In initial emails, I'd noted the forthcoming eclipse across the USA. Checking, my interlocutor is just N of the path of totality (I wish!) for April's total eclipse. I'm enjoying the darkness here too.

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/

#TotalEclipse2024 #SolarEclipse2024

Eclipse Europa, PHP & Ruby et al.

As planned last night I installed Eclipse Europa and the Ruby Development Tools [RDT]. RDT was missing at first and as I tried to use the same workspace there were complaints. Once RDT was installed using the 'update manager' my test 'hello world' program ran aok. The Eclipse help system includes a 'hello world' example.

I'm completely bowled over by Eclipse(s)...
As the scope, usability, feature set and potential of Eclipse rolls my way -
I'm cold. Frozen solid just thinking about learning this environment,
but the promise, well that really warms you up.

I'm off work on holiday for the next week, so amongst some jobs and trips I plan to check out the PHP options, how Eclipse can support Drupal.

Tortoise CVS is also in place, so now a right-click in folders and on the desktop reveals two CVS options. CVS is provided within Eclipse too, so I'm sure this is the way to go. It's the NW England Drupal meet next week and I plan on having a CVS aware Drupal 6 up and running before then - if that's possible. It's a must-do of course, if I'm to review Mercer's new Drupal 6 book at the end of the month.

Unfortunately Brian and I are not able to meet this week. It is great to know he is busy and we plan to catch up soon.

Just to mention that the Northern England Human Ecology Group look set to meet again in April on a Saturday, theme Well-being, likely venue Rivington, nr Horwich, Bolton - details tbc....

And finally - fantastic job Atlantis!

Photo source adapted from original: by Kyle Carmona - http://www.eclipsetours.com/lresults.html

Early spring PC clean: Eclipse, Drupal, PHP & Ruby

My PC is over 5 years old, that's no problem as I like to squeeze every bit out of them.

I've recognised for a quite a while that there are obvious connections between Drupal, PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS and Javascript. There are additional connections though when Ruby and Protege are thrown into the mix. The common thread seems to be the Eclipse IDE integrated development environment. This presents the biggest challenge at present and it is clear what I have to do: So long Dreamweaver - I really DO need to adopt Eclipse.

The Smalltalk* V DIGITALK package is sat on my shelf laughing at me and that's a really scary, dusty grin. The Smalltalk IDE was so tantalising and yet I couldn't get past base. Borland's Prolog (later PDC Prolog) plus Delphi also failed to take off for me (although PDC Prolog did help with my studies at the time).

Clearing the PC cobwebs today (have you checked your PC's air vents recently?) I found an old Eclipse 2 folder and have deleted version 3.1 and finally downloaded 3.3. Aptana and the Ruby development tools were installed, so there are now plug-ins to chase. Apparently, there's a plug-in for PHP too, which is why I wonder whether Eclipse can do it all? That is of course if I can learn enough to hear the harmony.

I've found a good series of tutorials, but my reflex book search suggests there are not many general intro books on Eclipse 3.x:

http://eclipsetutorial.sourceforge.net/workbench.html

I won't delete Dreamweaver MX just yet...

*Currently, reading about early interface and interaction development in Bill Moggridge's Designing Interactions, which includes Smalltalk - p.69 a great book in weight and content. More to follow...

Ruby, Eclipse AND Rails

Last February I mentioned here that I was going to try to learn Ruby. Regardless of the name, it really seems to be a gem of a programming language. Finding Eclipse -

Eclipse is an open source community whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle. A large and vibrant ecosystem of major technology vendors, innovative start-ups, universities, research institutions and individuals extend, complement and support the Eclipse platform.

- also made me hungry again (after some 12-15 years) to tinker with code. After installing and trying Eclipse and Ruby in the spring - time got the better of me.

Then last week I read an item from October's PC PRO - 'A total Eclipse'.

I removed Ruby, who am I trying to kid!

It was time to check out Ruby AND Rails -

Rails is a full-stack framework for developing database-backed web applications according to the Model-View-Control pattern. From the Ajax in the view, to the request and response in the controller, to the domain model wrapping the database, Rails gives you a pure-Ruby development environment. To go live, all you need to add is a database and a web server.

I installed INSTANT RAILS and it's awe inspiring; so much to learn, but it really feels like the motor's running. I've had the Rails book since the spring with one reading and now the mini library (Ajax, PHP, Drupal, DOM Scripting) I managed to put together is paying dividends (I think!).

So now Aptana is plugged into Eclipse and I'm up to Part II - Building an Application (just to put things into perspective that's p. 51/719 actually!).
If you follow this blog, you may be thinking he has dropped Drupal! Far from it. I can't wait for this Wednesday night and the meeting at Manchester Digital Development Agency. Books aren't the whole story: I have to add that installing Drupal, screwing up, deleting, installing again and finding some stability at last... such that I can check out the innards of Drupal (play!) has helped me enormously in starting with Ruby, Rails and Eclipse. Hope I can maintain this momentum.

I've also noticed the ads for Ruby and Rails hosting too - wish I could find a sponsor or two...

Spreading the cognitive and temporal jam yet further - I've downloaded Inkscape's Vector Graphics editor. Still need a decent banner (and finish the socio-tech paper - must contact the editors!).

Website - spring (autumn) cleaning and the year ahead

Since starting this blog last April I've realised the website needs more than a spring (or autumnal) clean. In 1997 with Brian's blessing I blew the dust off his original notes and made these available to the wider world. Now though virtual dust is collecting, there's content that needs archiving, some that may be worthy of update and the rest ripe for deletion.

If I were a lecturer, focused on learning, teaching, mentoring and R&D related to Hodges' model, the current content would probably have a home in an institutional learning management system [LMS]. It would certainly help me to have the resources that academic ICT departments can provide. For many lecturers though the tools they use are not necessarily their personal and preferred choice. So, given my freelance-spare time status how can I take the site forward? Or more critically how best to engage others and create a community?

Whatever system is used in academia the LMS would encourage and include contributions from students. It is such an infusion - fresh blood and thought - that h2cm needs. The blog shows that there are some interested parties out there and actual users of Hodges' model too (I see a student's negotiation from h2cm to Casey's model as a positive not a negative). Now I'm not getting carried away (it would take a Shuttle flight to achieve that), but it's weird the way things seem to be coming together.

As a critic on Wikipedia pointed out the website is not even worthy of a unique url (web address). Well that is in hand, but which architecture and software should I investigate and ultimately select? SaaS, that is - Software as a Service is arriving in the education market with other Web 2.0 applications. For me Hodges' model MUST encourage and facilitate learning. It should not just be about learning management. Although to many my early Computer Aided Learning efforts on the BBC micro may be considered Noddy stuff, I did strive to ensure that the programs were not just page-turning exercises. Learning BBC BASIC with the arrays, loops and other data structures was a fascinating creative process. How to interactively marry a specific learning-teaching objective with a programming language / environment; all without the tail wagging the dog?

Those non-IBM PC beginnings have proved a negative in terms of lack of knowledge about networks, servers and more serious database and programming applications. Now though reading the pickaxe and Ruby on Rails I have to say: Ruby really rocks! There are data structures, methods and explanatory sentences that sizzle.

Needing a development environment for Ruby I found Eclipse. Then the Drupal meeting with Charlie the other week in London and a server and database are on the list. Now I've XAMPP installed aok and soon I'll know [thanks Roger] if I'm a few steps from having Drupal running properly. I've only scratched the surface of Eclipse, but it seems an excellent tool: a real diamond. In addition Eclipse was a key part of a presentation I attended this week on Open Source and Open Standards.

I clearly have many dots-to-join. A lot of this makes me feel dense, plus I do have a demanding day-job, but there's an equally intense rationale here....

The REAL problem is how to transcend slogans: integrated care, holistic practice, education and health for ALL, public - patient involvement, public [mental] health, e-citizenry, engagement... None of us can do that alone.

"Ruby don't take your code to town"

When the home microcomputer boom took off I learnt BASIC programming on a Sinclair ZX81 and then moved on to BBC BASIC in 1982-3. Since then I've never managed to program on a PC. I kept the day-job, but those hobbyist coding days (and nights) were really enjoyable.

Several computer programs were produced that sold in nurse education:

• Nursing Process
• Computer Assisted Nursing Assessment
• Blood Groups
• Shades of Grey (nuclear weapons simulation)

In the 90's I looked at C++ and Smalltalk, but nothing happened. The first pit-a-pat of tiny feet in 1985 was the key factor. Now in 2007 the h2cm website needs revising. I'm undecided on how to tackle this; a content management system is a possibility? While doing some reading/browsing though, I've discovered a computer language with an enticing shine.

I've decided to try to learn Ruby. Whether this will lead anywhere remains to be seen, but it's fun and challenging just to enthuse a little. There's a tutorial that is encouraging, intriguing and additional tools that support Web 2.0 and Ajax look well worth the effort. Now with Ruby installed, I've run the ubiquitous "hello.rb" program using the Eclipse development environment - that's a start.

Maybe in future posts we can compare programming and nursing? That said, there doesn't appear to be any direct connections in this book. That's one birthday present sorted!