Web-based data visualization tools

[josborne]

Hi.  I originally posted this question to the LV forum, but I am going to modify my question because I think Diadem may be a good solution for us.

I am embarking on a interesting research project that will involve recording lots of physiological signals from patient monitors in a hospital.  I will be recording signals like BP, spO2, Pulserate, ECG, etc.

Right now, my main design concern is how to give clinicians access to the data after it is recorded.  I think Diadem might be a good solution, but I really want it to be web-based.

Here is my wish list:

- Store the data securely, where access can be restricted and controlled (e.g. user must login)

- Allow users (who are granted access) to login and view historical data via a simple web browser

- Allow users to pick datasets amd zoom, scroll, etc. 

- Allow user to view data in stacked plots (e.g. so they can see multiple signals simultaneously on the screen and scroll the time axis)

- Allow user to annotate data (e.g. add comments at specific timestamps)

Do you have any reccomendations for a web-based data visualization tool like this?  Do you think Diadem meet my needs?

[Otmar]

Hello J Osborne,

You application sounds like a great fit for DIAdem and the DataFinder, with the exception of the Web-based nature of the application. We currently do not offer a native web interface to DIAdem and it's features, but there are ways to accomplish that using established technologies such as remote clients ...

Here are my comments to your individual questions:

- Store the data securely, where access can be restricted and controlled (e.g. user must login)

* The DataFinder Server (which works with DIAdem) technology can be used to give specific users access to only data they are supposed to see, so we can cover this part of your application

- Allow users (who are granted access) to login and view historical data via a simple web browser

* This would have to be achieved via a remote client solution, since DIAdem offers no native Web client

- Allow users to pick datasets amd zoom, scroll, etc. 

* This is something that the DIAdem NAVIGATOR and DIAdem VIEW are very good at, including the ability to search for data sets based on specific key words, patient names, etc. and the ability to look at multiple data sets simultaneously in multiple windows with zooming and scrolling.

- Allow user to view data in stacked plots (e.g. so they can see multiple signals simultaneously on the screen and scroll the time axis)

* That's DIAdem VIEW, sounds like a perfect fit: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/7384

- Allow user to annotate data (e.g. add comments at specific timestamps)

* DIAdem VIEW has the ability to highlight events with cursors, and we could easily add the ability to add comments through a custom dialog and a short script. We could prepare and demo this feature for you ...

I would be happy to discuss your application with you in more detail. Feel free to contact me at (800) 531-5066 (ask for Otmar Foehner) or via email at    otmar DOT foehner AT ni DOT com.

[StefanR]

Hi J Osborne,

you can also post this great idea to the

DIAdem Idea Exchange

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi josborne,

If you have enough budget at your disposal to set up a Citrix Server or the Windows equivalent (Terminal Services), we have tested that DIAdem works quite well as a hosted application.  This would be an excellent solution assuming that the users would be interacting with the data using a computer with a keyboard, mouse and monitor.  The Citrix Server provides the web front end for all applications it hosts, and DIAdem already supports launching of multiple instances at a time, so your server could host as many DIAdem connections as you have requesting clients (plan ahead with system resources).  Your users would need to install no NI software and would interact with the Citrix server using Internet Explorer or other web browsers.

This approach would be less of a home run fit, though, if you're interested in offering your users the ability to interact from tablet PCs or smart phones, etc.  In that case you would still need to create custom interfaces to expose DIAdem's capabilities to those more limited client environments.  I've never tried to get that to work from a Ctrix server and don't know how much effort is involved or exactly what is achievable.

Brad Turpin

DIAdem Product Support Engineer

National Instruments