Mobile Decision Support System:

Design and Implementation

Wojtek Michalowski (wojtek@management.uottawa.ca)School of ManagementUniversity of Ottawa

Roman Slowinski, Szymon Wilk

Laboratory of IDSSPoznan University of Technology

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Outline

New DSS and its architecture; Thin client and fat server; MET: new DSS in clinical environment; Conclusions.

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New DSS

Intelligence, mobility, and soft-computing Support of problem understanding and formulation

over optimization; Support of data gathering for future use; Support of collaborative decision making in teams; Support irrespectively of decision maker’s location.

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New DSS architecture

Intelligence Design Choice

Classical DSS

New DSS

Thin client Fat server

Fat server + thin mobile client Designed to support entire decision making process; Designed to conform to new decision making practices

and environments.

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Thin client and fat server

Thin client Identifies problem directly in the field and provides

limited support;

Fat server Generates feasible alternatives; Applies model to evaluate the alternatives; Supports selection.

Server

Full support capability:• Data managment• Intense support

Client

Limited support capability:• Data collection• Data filtering• Initial support

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Thin client: requirements and expectations

Client should be always accessible and mobile; Client should be handy and easy to use

– User interface should be intuitive with minimal cognitive requirements;

– Data entry should be structured and follow well established patterns;

– Amount of information required to obtain initial support should be minimized.

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Example of a new DSS

MET = Mobile Emergency Triage– Supports emergency triage of acute pain

conditions in childhood;– Developed and designed in collaborations

with physicians from Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

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MET architecture

MET Decision Algorithm and Application Server

Data analysis (generating rules, establishing relevant symptoms and signs)

Data manipulation (adding, deleting, editing)

MET Communication Server

Managing users and applications (managing users’ accounts, installing and updating applications)

Data synchronization (uploading, downloading, merging)

MET Database Server

MET Handheld(Thin) Client

Basic support functions (recommending triage )

Data gathering and manipulation(storing and updating collected data in local database)

Data exchange(upload and download of data with other clients)

Local communication

(cradle or IrDA port)

Remote communication(modem, Internet, wireless networks)

Hospital System: Patient Data Repository

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MET thin client: a handheld

A clinical support system “in a pocket”

Local database

Decision model

Evaluation/Solver

Triage support

Data exchange

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Thin client structured interface: collecting patient information

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Writing (structured) comments

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Interface organization

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Supporting problem identification

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Conclusions

New DSS design paradigm allowing for decoupling of the support functions;

Support on demand of data capture with limited problem evaluation capability;

Emphasize on problem identification (triage) instead of a solution (diagnosis);

Seamless model validation and update.