The following software was used for development:

• C++ (Palm - Code Warrior; Windows - Visual C++)
• QDS™ Version 2.0 and 2.1 of QDS™

The software was tested and implemented on the following Hardware devices

• Palm Vx, M515
• Tungsten W, Tungsten C
• Tungsten E (not recommended - low capacity battery)
• Palm modem - data transfer via the fixed line network
• Palm Tungsten W - data transfer via the cellular network
• Handspring Visor with Magellan GPS clip-on for GIS applications

The QDS Technology
The QDS technology comprises the following modules and functions:

1. A Design Studio application for designing questionnaires in an intuitive graphical user environment
2. Data collection applications based on paper or electronically on computers
3. A Warehouse Manager application for storing and managing data
4. Export routines to common analysis applications such as SAS and SPSS and a data to ASCII export utility
5. Automatic documentation, including paper questionnaires, a codebook, change history etc.

Advantages of QDS
QDS has several advantages for developing and maintaining questionnaires and data and is particularly useful as it empowers the user to take control of the process without requiring programme intervention.

• No programming
• Easy to make revisions-don't need to go back to programmers to make minor revisions
• Instantly rebuild your data collection applications
• Single Source Publishing
  The tendency now is to aim for an electronic version of single source publishing. In this technique, a single specification file is created and managed using an intuitive PC-based software application. This file is then used to generate several kinds of data collection application, including paper forms, PC-based double data entry applications for forms capture, as well as laptop and handheld computer applications for electronic data capture. Data is compiled into a data warehouse and exported in any required format for analysis. The advantages of single source publishing are that only a single file needs to be maintained, improved efficiency, error reduction and the fact that previous questions can be cut and paste allowing a library of question templates to be developed. The handheld computer screen on the right hand side was generated in a single step from such a specification file.