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Mandoforms Developer Kit

Automatic incorporation of usability best practice

Usability has always been a primary objective in the development of Mandoforms. The result is 'conversational' e-forms, leading the applicant through each 'bite-size-chunk' of the forms process using a 'wizard' metaphor. Familiar 'next 'and 'back' buttons give the opportunity to edit or re-visit parts of the form, a 'save' button facilitates the interim save and resume and a 'submit' is used for final submission. Button labels can be customised to suite any application (e.g. 'Look up Address')

Mandoforms are context sensitive, adapting in response to answers or previously known information and presenting only questions that are relevant to the citizen or staff member.

By making information capture easier and quicker, Mandoforms provide a range of features and benefits for users:

  1. Forms are easy to understand because they are broken down into small logical sections
  2. Easier and quicker to complete using the wizard metaphor
  3. Never asks irrelevant questions
  4. Mistakes on previous pages can be corrected by using the Back button to go back and the Next button to return
  5. Immediate feedback on correct and incorrect entries
  6. Ability to print local copy in a variety of formats
  7. Intermediate save for long or complex forms
  8. No worries about security of information
  9. A status bar displays how far the user is through the form

Speed of development

As well as improving the user experience, Mandoforms also benefit the IT department by their speed of production using the Mandoforms Builder graphical interface and secondly by allowing the form owners to develop the forms themselves, thus reducing the resource commitments on the IT department.

Finally, to make use of the information capture via the forms, Mandoforms integrate into back office systems via such routes as database connectivity and XML output.

Single form with automated incorporation of accessibility best practice

As mandated in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by refusing them a service or providing a service on worse terms.

Mandoforms has been working with the RNIB to ensure that the Mandoforms products comply with requirements for physically handicapped, visually impaired, blind and socially disadvantaged users. Mandoforms exceed the RNIB "See it Right" recommendations and score a 'AAA' rating against the W3C WAI accessibility guidelines (Rated using the Bobby and A-Prompt accessibility assessment tools).

The key advantage of Mandoforms accessibility support is that it does not require any development by the form builder. All Mandoforms are inherently accessible by default. Moreover, the Mandoforms builder tool will check forms for accessibility mistakes. For example, if the chosen foreground and background colours did not provide a good contrast.

Single form delivery to multiple devices

Mandoforms can currently be rendered for PC's, Tablet PC's, iDTV, Kiosks and PDA's.

The support of multiple channels (including reduced training requirements for call centres/drop-in offices) and the low level requirements for hardware and software at the user PC means that Mandoforms gives the socially disadvantaged the easiest route to on-line forms. Mandoforms can also be deployed to kiosks and iDTV. In particular, our Distributed Mandoforms product works with kiosks that are not permanently connected to the Internet, but operate a continuous service.

Integration

Mandoforms provides a wide variety of integration options. Many customers looking for a 'quick win' simply develop and deploy forms on their website with little or no integration. The captured data may be printed then onward processed in the normal way.

The next step may be to e-mail the captured information/citizen requests to appropriate officers or store in a database for subsequent processing, again without disturbing the remaining business process.

However, where seamless end-to-end integration is required, perhaps involving CRM, workflow, payments, document management etc, Mandoforms is a highly open system and comes complete with all the tools necessary to ensure that integration is as easy as possible. Nor is it just a 'black box'.

An extensive range of 30 plug-ins accomplishes most integration tasks and communications with back office systems (e.g. connecting to a database, email routing, outputting XML, PDF and other file types etc.). Where a plug-in is not available, integration can be achieved via a generic HTTP plug-in, also included in the product.

Mandoforms customers integrate with a wide variety of databases, workflow, CRM, CMS systems etc. Known examples include SAP, Novell, Capita Direct, Experian, Lotus Notes, Metastorm e-work, Anite Contact Management, APLAWS, Obtree, Academy CRM, Immediacy and Tridion.

Feature rich forms straight 'out of the box'

There follows a brief summary of some of the features in Mandoforms:

  1. Form development without the need to code or script
  2. Intelligent Navigation – builds business rules into the form without scripts
  3. Large range of context-sensitive preset validation routines
  4. Flexible form design caters for both infrequent and expert users
  5. Instant working preview of form on workstation speeds development and testing
  6. Large range of configurable integration options
  7. Form templates and form components for form assembly
  8. Fits in with your website
  9. Prototype form development can be undertaken by the service departments
  10. Mandoforms in contact centres improves services by reducing training burden
  11. Develop one form per service – but deploy to multiple devices
  12. Support for PC's, Tablet PC's, PDA's, idTV, kiosks – both continuous connections and intermittent devices
  13. Develop one form per service – automatically deploy accessible version
  14. Support for screen readers, voice recognition, desktop Braille
  15. Supports older software/hardware
  16. Supports multiple languages
  17. Compliance with W3C WAI, US Section 508, IBM Accessibility checklist
  18. XML e-GIF compliance (multiple templates)
  19. Works equally well on Internet, Intranet and Extranet
  20. Integrates well with departmental applications, CRM, CMS and workflow
  21. Proven, secure and scalable technology (to 15,000 forms/hour)
  22. Constantly evolving product based on customer feedback
  23. Proven to be 300% more usable than HTML forms
  24. Low hardware requirements for server – no need for new hardware
  25. Works on all major web platforms - no need for expensive 3rd party software