From: anne001 <anne@...>
Date: 2006-09-27T07:15:16+09:00
Subject: how to design a system to centralize data? -- using ruby

Hi

I work in a psychology lab which used to test subjects one on one. A
subject would be tested on 1 to 20 tests each generating a summary
value or text data file. Now in addition, we are getting thousands of
responses on single or multiple tests from folks on the web in multiple
websites. We can't possibly copy/paste that volume of data into an
excel file. So we need to automate.

One thought is to have a centralized depository with both data and data
format so folks can analyse the data easily. Plus a way of filtering
the data: for example extract data from subjects matched on some
criteria... So I think that means a database.

Because the high volume data is accumulated on the web and can be sent
by email, that suggests a webapplication. ruby on rails can probably do
something like that.

Is this something a programmer with a little ruby and rails can design,
or should we consult with some folks to figure out what the
format/system should look like, and if so what kind of folks would be
able to advise us? (folks knowing ruby or rails of course)