What will it look like?
Paradoxically, if it goes as planned, GALEN will be essentially invisible to end users – they should see its effects because they get better clinical information systems. GALEN is about using and extending the limits of computer technology to develop better clinical applications. End users may come to recognise that certain styles applications and user interface – we hope the ones they like – have GALEN Terminology Servers inside, but the servers themselves will remain behind the scenes. Developers and systems managers, on the other hand, will have a new range of tools to use and a new server, analogous to a database server, on their network, or as part of their clinical applications. Those developing coding systems will see a new language in which to express their ideas and a new range of tools on their desks designed specifically to make it easier to develop, validate, and cross reference coding and classification systems (and other, more advanced terminology systems).
