Free Text Synthesis System (FTSS)

Abstract

This paper describes a programming system to perform free-text synthesis as determined by the prior definition of parameters, control data and standard text (i.e. the user program). The output consists of:— previously defined standard text elements,— arithmetic values calculated from the contents of the OMR forms,— free text obtained by means of on-line input to a visual display unit.Prior to this output the primary information undergoes testing as regards its completeness and plausibility. Should this testing result in no errors the data undergo further processing, otherwise relevant error messages are output and the data cease to be processed.The functions of FTSS are clarified by the use of flowcharts, tables and figures. The system design is discussed from the point of view of the necessity of its optimization and the necessity in medical information science for general program systems, taking into account the inter-relationship between the user programs •— with their variable clinical content — and the variable main programs — with their time-consuming problem analysis and systems development stages in conjunction with their requirements for programming personnel.FTSS is written in PL/1 and is implemented on the IBM—360/67 of the Medical System Hannover. Since the user program is processed as control information for the main program, FTSS is a data controlled processing system.FTSS is an independent module that at present has eight implementations for routine clinical usage. At the same time it is a part of an extensive recording system consisting of closed information cycles within a general information synthesis system.