SBIR-STTR Award

We will develop and commercialize an interactive multimedia information support system for substance abuse practitioners. This system will integrate client records, on-line assessment instruments, medical practice guidelines, reference materials, case studies, and other resources into a single personal-computer- based system. In Phase 1, the feasibility of developing a prototype of the system will be established. The key technical activities in Phase I will include the selection of an appropriate system development environment; definition of architecture and components; identification of intelligent methods of building a knowledge hierarchy and knowledge formatting; selection of search and retrieval techniques; and definition of models for human- computer interface. Most of the system sub-components are available on the market; those that are not will be developed with the help of research findings to maximize efficiency. Recent technological advances in software, hardware, high performance computing and telecommunications allow development of a cost-effective system. This work will provide the foundation for Phase 11 - development and testing of a prototype. The product will have wide commercial application to health care, beyond the substance abuse subfield; market studies have already been initiated.National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Our objective is to develop and commercialize an interactive multimedia information support system for substance abuse practitioners. This system will integrate client records, on-line assessment instruments, treatment planning software, clinical practice guidelines, reference materials, and other resources into a single system available on the World Wide Web, individual personal computers and corporate intranets. It will allow technology transfer of current research findings into the daily practice of substance abuse treatment in a wide variety of settings. In Phase 1, the feasibility of developing a prototype of the system was established, Phase II is the actual development and evaluation of a prototype. The key technical activities in Phase II will include development of detailed system functional requirements; creation of functional modules of the system, implementation of intelligent methods of building a knowledge hierarchy and knowledge formatting; evaluation and utilization of search and retrieval techniques; and design and implementation of models for human-computer interface. Recent technological advances in computer software and networking allow rapid development of a cost-effective system. This will lead to Phase III - productization of the prototype, marketing, and distribution of the product. Market studies indicate that the product will have broad commercial application to substance abuse field worldwide.Thesaurus termscomputer system design /evaluation, drug abuse information system, interactive multimedia, method development Internet, automated medical record system, computer network, online computer, personal computerNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)