The potential
applications for Alextra are enormous. Anyone who produces or handles
documents, or communicates on a regular basis with far-flung clients
and colleagues, can benefit from the enormous power of this tool.
We have, however, provided five prototype professionals to show how
the Alextra system might be used:
| Architect:
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I head
a team of people who work together on a construction project.
Each of my colleagues has a specific expertise which needs to
be incorporated into the architectural drawings. They need to
be able to have access to the plans and revise them according
to their remit. By putting the plans in an Alextra file, they
can have access at any time and make adjustments as they see
fit. I can then monitor these changes by tracking what everyone
has done until the plans are finalized.
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| Engineer:
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My projects are built
in a "top-down" fashion. Each project I work on involves a vast
number of individual plans who work on each of its component
parts. The people who work under me -machinists, electricians,
pattern makers, etc. - need to have access to the plans to see
what needs to be done and how the whole project fits together.
By putting the plans on Alextra in a "read only" fashion, they
can get access at any time and keep abreast of how the project
is proceeding. |
| Quality
Assurance Manager: |
I work for a big engineering
firm with the responsibility for maintaining quality and safety
standards on projects. The standards set by the government and
the industry bodies make for a huge pile of paperwork. I have
to make sure that these directives are followed by colleagues
down the production line. Paper tends to get easily lost or
simply ignored. By putting the directives on Alextra on a "read
only" basis, I can keep the materials in one central location
easily accessible to everyone. As an added bonus, I can monitor
the traffic and keep abreast of who has and has not read the
directives. |
| Technical
Author: |
I write technical
manuals to go along with new software packages. Given the complexity
of the software and the many specific applications of it, these
manuals are often bulky and cumbersome. No one likes having
to page through a paper manual while trying to figure out the
applications for software on screen. By putting these hefty
documents in a secure Alextra box, I can allow my customers
to view it from their PC, and download it if they wish. I can
also make sure that only those who have bought my product have
access to it. |
| Editor:
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I'm a freelance editor
who works on book and magazine production. The process of getting
something into print involves the author, editor, copy editor,
production designer and publisher, all of whom have a say in
the final form it takes. With revisions and counter-revisions
flying around it's easily to lose track of drafts and find that
essential changes have been lost in production. By putting the
manuscript in an Alextra box we can all work on the manuscript
together and monitor the revisions others have carried out,
until the final proofs are acceptable to everyone. |
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