Program Design EE1PSC

Lab Sessions 2 and 3 – Activity Diagrams

Introduction:
The next two sessions will see our technical briefs be used to create activity diagrams that represent
how the program will function (how inputs become outputs in general and step-by-step). You should
have already completed lab session 1 and will need to use your technical briefs to complete this lab
session. You should not create activity diagrams directly from the briefs, this increases the difficulty
of the task and typically leads to missing elements and unintentional errors.

As previously mentioned one of these client briefs will be the basis for your assessment submission,
announced during lab session 3. However, you are expected to complete all the client briefs.
Program design is essential for your future studies and career, but also to the remaining assessments
in this module. Failing to practice will make future assignments more challenging.

Dataflow diagrams describes the process by which one or more inputs are converted into one or
more outputs without considering how it is carried out in detail. Functionality diagrams give a step-
by-step sequence of events that converts inputs to outputs. Do not skip the dataflow diagrams, their
advantage is showing a clear relationship between inputs and outputs that will help you create the
functionality diagrams. Consequently, they help you avoid making mistakes and missing elements.

To create activity diagrams, the free online version of Lucidchart is strongly recommended by
academic staff and previous students. Lucidchart can be accessed at www.lucidchart.com and many
resources have been linked within the module area on Blackboard. This software allows a variety of
activity diagrams to be created and avoids wasting time hunting for shapes and positioning them
PowerPoint, a slower process that is also harder to correct. Accounts are free to create with the only
restriction being the amount of elements in a single diagram, students can divide their diagrams into
sections if they approach this limit.
Program Design EE1PSC

Client Brief 1: Beach Clocks

“Beach Clocks Ltd produce information boards that show temperature information to beach-goers.
Beach Clocks are designing new global products but need a generic program design that describes
how their products will calculate key temperature values. Their products need to provide 4 values in
real time, the current temperature in Celsius, the current temperature in Fahrenheit and the highest
temperature recorded by the product since a reset button was last pressed in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
To make these products work, a temperature sensor providing the current temperature in Celsius is
used. In every product, this sensor will provide the software with the current temperature in Celsius,
while a physical button on the rear of the product will allow a user to reset the highest temperature
value. When the button is pressed, the highest temperature value will be set to 0 degrees Celsius until
a new temperature reading is provided. The program is expected to run indefinitely.”

To begin with, map the dataflow activity diagram using the technical brief you generated in the first
lab session.

NB. Inputs -> Description of Processing -> Outputs

Multiple diagrams may be necessary

Now map functionality from the technical brief and with the assistance of the dataflow activity
diagram.

NB. Describe the ‘description of processing fully so that each step is clear and simple to
execute. Join all of the different processes together into a single sequence that also
reflects the chronological order of events
Program Design EE1PSC

Client Brief 2: Hot Pots

“Hot Pots are a leading pottery company producing glazed crockery. We wish to commission
software for our new kiln that will allow us to continuously monitor the internal and external
temperature of our kiln to the nearest tenth of a degree. We have acquired temperature probes for
measurement, an LCD screen to display messages to duty staff, a button and a speaker to provide
user interaction. The program is expected to display the temperature difference between the inside
and outside of the kiln during normal operation on the screen. An error message must appear if the
temperature inside the kiln exceeds 285.0 degrees. The system will emit a constant loud tone if the
temperature reaches or exceeds 295.0 degrees. When an error message appears, a user will take
independent corrective action and press the button to indicate that the problem has been resolved.
When the button is pressed, the error message must disappear and return to showing the
temperature difference as usual. If a tone is being emitted, this must also stop.”

To begin with, map the dataflow activity diagram using the technical brief you generated in the first
lab session.

NB. Inputs -> Description of Processing -> Outputs

Multiple diagrams may be necessary

Now map functionality from the technical brief and with the assistance of the dataflow activity
diagram.

NB. Describe the ‘description of processing fully so that each step is clear and simple to
execute. Join all of the different processes together into a single sequence that also
reflects the chronological order of events
Program Design EE1PSC

Client Brief 3: Cashpoint Ltd

“Cashpoint Ltd are designing a new type of ATMs that will dispense notes and coins, a design they
believe will be useful for the amusement arcade environment at holiday parks and seaside towns.
The machine will hold all note and coins denominations between £20 notes and 1 penny coins. Clients
will enter the amount that they wish to withdraw, the maximum withdrawal amount will be £100
and the minimum will be £1. The machine will add a service charge of £1.50 to valid amounts and
transmit the total to the clients’ bank on behalf of the ATM operator. Once sent, the ATM will then
calculate the least number of notes and coins needed to dispense the requested amount and provide
the notes and coins to the client. Cashpoint Ltd wish a demonstrator program design to be created as
part of the development process that will perform all of the operations of the ATM except providing
the notes and coins. Instead, it will provide the amount of notes/coins required for each
denomination.”

To begin with, map the dataflow activity diagram using the technical brief you generated in the first
lab session.

NB. Inputs -> Description of Processing -> Outputs

Multiple diagrams may be necessary

Now map functionality from the technical brief and with the assistance of the dataflow activity
diagram.

NB. Describe the ‘description of processing fully so that each step is clear and simple to
execute. Join all of the different processes together into a single sequence that also
reflects the chronological order of events
Program Design EE1PSC

Client Brief 4: Panic Alarm

“Medicare Ltd are developing a new call system for patients within a hospital ward. Their
demonstrator hardware has a nurse station and a single room. Medicare Ltd are looking for a
program design that will provide the right signals to healthcare professionals on the ward. A
summons button is placed next to the bedside of the patient and allows a patient to summon a
medical professional for circumstances such as needing assistance to go to the toilet and
experiencing intense pain. To help distinguish the importance of the summons, if the button is
pressed and released, it is classed as a normal priority signal. However, if the button is held for more
than 2 seconds it is considered a high priority signal.

When a normal priority signal occurs, speakers at the monitoring station and in the patients’ room
should emit a doorbell (ding-dong) sound and a light above the patients’ room doorway will turn
amber. This light will be visible from the nurses’ station in the ward. For high priority signals, a klaxon
sound should be emitted from speakers at the monitoring station and in the patients’ room. The light
above the doorway should turn red.

When the healthcare professional answers the summons by entering the patients’ room, they press a
separate button to the left of the doorframe, signalling that the patient has been attended to. This
trigger must turn off the light outside the room and all emitted sounds must end.

As patients often have to wait, which can cause normal issues to become urgent, a normal priority
signal becomes a high priority signal if a professional does not attend the patient within 60 seconds.”

To begin with, map the dataflow activity diagram using the technical brief you generated in the first
lab session.

NB. Inputs -> Description of Processing -> Outputs

Multiple diagrams may be necessary

Now map functionality from the technical brief and with the assistance of the dataflow activity
diagram.

NB. Describe the ‘description of processing fully so that each step is clear and simple to
execute. Join all of the different processes together into a single sequence that also
reflects the chronological order of events