Objects and Attributes

Overview

"Objects and Attributes" is a simple educational software developed to support CBAM therapy. It is derived from Find It !.
Hope it could be useful for everyone, so it's now officially available to download.

Purpose of the application

The main window shows an image of an object which has a main peculiarity (e.g. a color). The child will have to identify a symbol and an attribute for this image.

Main screen "Objects and Attributes"

In the above screenshot the software shows a Round Button. So, the "correct answer" is:

Button
Round

The program works both with a mouse or a touch screen (more comfortable for children with development disorders, and generally more amusing).

Images, symbols and attributes can be easily replaced simply copying files in the respective folders (one folder for images, one for symbols and one for attributes).

There are different ways to use the software::

Sequence mode: the software has two main way of working: in standard mode, both symbols and attributes are shown at the same time; in sequence mode, symbols are shown first and only after the correct answer, attributes are shown.
Use of distractors: you can choose if distractors for symbols and attributes have to be shown.
Attributes distractor category: you can chose if the attribute distractor has to be of the same category. E.g. you can chose if colors have to be shown only with colors or with shapes too.

How it works

The program has three main windows:

Starting window (Program options)
Activity window (the application itself)
Closing window (infos about program)

Starting window (Program options)

Starting window

A) Distractors management: here you can choose if distractors have to be shown.

These are the available options:

Both distractors enabled	Only symbols distractor enabled

Only attributes distractor enabled	Both distractors disabled

B) Attribute distractor choosing method: you can choose if the attribute distractor has to be of the same category.
If we have attributes belonging to the following categories:

Colors
Shapes
Lifecycle

choosing "Same category of image" will not be possible to obtain as attributes "Red" + "Square" or "Old" + "Green".

C) Use sequence between symbols and attributes: you can choose how symbols and attributes will be shown.

If the checkbox is unchecked, both symbols and attributes will be shown at the same time:

"Use sequence between symbols and attributes" disabled

If you check it, first will be shown symbols and, only after a correct answer, attributes will be shown:

Only symbols shown first	Correct answer: BUTTON	Attributes are shown
"Use sequence between symbols and attributes" enabled

Only when "Use sequence between symbols and attributes" is enabled, the software will play the sounds for correct and wrong answers.

D) Sounds management: allows you to choose if the software has to play sounds (for correct and wrong answers). You can chose, here, which sound has to be played for correct/wrong answers. Each combo has the list of the whole content of Sounds folder. Sounds will be played only when "Use sequence between symbols and attributes" is enabled.

How to manage Images, Symbols and Attributes

To work properly, the software needs the correct naming of the files.
Is the file name to determine the link between images, symbols and attributes.

Important: "Objects and Attributes" works only with Jpeg images (.jpg)

After "Objects and Attributes" initial setup, you will have, on your disk, this folder structure:

Folder structure

In the folder ObjectsandAttributes there is the program (ObjectsAndAttributes.exe) and four folders:

Attributes
Images
Sound
Symbols

An easy shortcut to access each folder is in the start menu:

Start menu for "Objets and Attributes"

How files names have to be built

- Images filenames will be built by:

Object name
Attribute category
Attribute

separated by a dot.

E.g.: Water.Color.Blue.jpg or Box.Shape.Square.jpg

- Symbols filenames, will be built by:

Object name

E.g.: Water.jpg or Box.jpg

- Attributes filenames, will be built by:

Attribute category
Attribute

separated by a dot.

E.g.: Color.Blue.jpg o Shape.Square.jpg

Here there is a simple schema of possible filenames:


Images sample set

Changing file names you can add all attributes categories you need.

Important: To allow "Objects and Attributes" working properly is mandatory:

Each image needs his corresponding symbol and at least one distractor
Each image needs his corresponding attribute and at least one distractor
Images names and symbols names must match
You need to have at least one image

"Objects and Attributes" needs rectangle shaped images and square symbols. The width does not really matter, because images and symbols are automatically resized. The only constraint is the aspect ratio (width/height) in order to avoid image distortion.

Aspect ratio is:

2x1 for images
1x1 for symbols

E.g.:

Aspect ratio for images	Aspect ratio for symbols and attributes

Recommended sizes are:

Images: 600 x 300 pixel
Symbols: 200 x 200 pixel

Max number of images is 1000

Max number of symbols is 1000

Max number of attributes is 1000

Symbols can me more than images, but for each image is needed the corresponding symbol.

Attributes can me more than images, but for each image is needed the corresponding attribute.

The program is delivered with sample images, symbols and attributes, without specific graphics, due to copyright issues. You have to replace them with your own desired images and symbols:

How to manage sounds

Important: "Objects and Attributes" works only with wave files (.wav)

After "Objects and Attributes" initial setup, you will have, on your disk, this folders structure:

Folder structure

"Objects and Attributes" setup program adds, in start menu, a direct shortcut to the folders:

How to access folders

By default Sounds folder contains two audio files (one for correct answers, one for wrong answers).
The names are:

ok.wav (played on correct answers)
error.wav (played on wrong answers)

You can use your own preferred sounds adding several wave files to Sounds folder (you can chose the ones to be played in the starting window).

Technical specification and credits

"Objects and Attributes" core concept and code have been developed using the good old Visual Basic 6 from Microsoft.

It works fine on Windows XP sp2, but only if you have on your PC the VB6 runtime (file msvbvm60.dll). Usually it is located under C:\windows\system32. If you do not have it yet, just download it from the web (look for it using Google or go straight here) and save it in C:\WINDOWS\system32.

I've tested "Objects and Attributes" also on Microsoft Vista and it seems to work properly (Dr. D.I.Y. provided the pc with Vista for testing).

To work properly, "Objects and Attributes" requires a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768.

The whole program has been written by me, except for audio routine which is from http://www.techonthenet.com/access/questions/play_wav.php.

Program setup has been done using Inno setup: http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php.

The name "Objects and Attributes" is my invention: hope is not a copyright infringement.

You can freely copy, use, share the program as you like, for no commercial purposes, but just do not remove credits.

"Objects and Attributes" is provided "as-is," without any express or implied warranty. In no event shall the author be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software.

Anyway I'll be happy to receive your impression and suggestion for further improvements and bug fixing.

"Objects and Attributes" does not contain any virus, spyware or malaware.

Author

Pietromassimo Pasqui
p.pasqui@lifelog.it
http://www.lifelog.it
http://www.aprescindere.com

Download

You can download "Objects and Attributes" from this location:
http://www.aprescindere.com/applications/OeA/ObjectsAndAttributesSetup1.0.exe