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V4 VIBS prerelease notes
- To: <support@gesn.com>
- Subject: V4 VIBS prerelease notes
- From: "Ken Clark" <ken@gesn.com>
- Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 11:35:37 -0700
- Importance: Normal
A
preliminary R6 VIBS software release is now available. Version
4.1.0.2-VIBS is up on the ftp site. The passwords are:
BallotStationCE-4-1-0-2-VIBS gcb17jhno2nba
BallotStationNT-4-1-0-2-VIBS
labdujhnotqbc
You need to have TSText-1-18-3 installed in your GEMS directory to use R6
VIBS. The 1.18 TSText will also work with 1.17 GEMS if that is what you
are running.
Core functionality
is complete. We think the new user interface is an improvement over
3.x, but you be the judge. This prerelease is hardcoded to be in VIBS mode
always. In this release the ballot remains visible on the screen
simultaneously with VIBS audio playback. Every VIBS keypad action is
tracked on screen as the voter casts their votes. You can even
mix-and-match touching the screen and using the keypad
interactively.
There is however
currently a long list of limitations:
- mp3 encoded audio
is not supported. GEMS audio must be recorded in PCM format (by clicking
the format button in the audio dialog). Since the audio is not
compressed, the database is a lot larger. This would not be a huge deal
except for the fact and most (all) existing VIBS database audio is recorded in
mp3 format.
- Election
types/options not implemented yet: write-ins, straight party, shadow
races, party selection, and multiple languages.
- Header audio is not
played
- Races without
candidates are not supported
- Races that span
pages are not supported
- Option to hide the
ballot in VIBS mode is not implemented yet
- Option to skip over
candidates that can't be voted is planned but not implemented yet (you'll know
what I mean when you try it).
- Error trapping is
nearly nonexistent. If there is something wrong with the database, it
will probably crash VIBS.
There are
two hardware interfaces for the keypad: the PS2 keyboard
port and the external serial port. Right now the Genovation Micropad
623 external serial keypad is supported on the external serial port. You
can also use any standard PC keyboard connected to the PS2 port, or an external
PC keypad like the Micro Innovations KP17B. Its not an option on the R6
since the keyboard port is behind the locked door. It is useful for
testing if you don't have a Genovation though. The R4's built-in keypad
will also work. All these keypads are in "accounting order" like the
right side of a full PC keyboard, not phone order. I have no idea
whether a proper keypad is in the works or not.
I have put up a
sample database in /pub/sample to play with. It is not
intended for demonstrations, just testing. A new database needs to be
created or adapted for demo purposes.
I encourage everyone
to try this out and send feedback. If like me you don't have a R6 unit,
you can always use the NT version on your desktop.
Ken