DeskActive Technical Specifications
DeskActive Client and DeskActive Manager applications are designed as lightweight installed applications for Windows XP, or Windows Vista.
Both applications connect to the DeskActive Central Communications Server (see below) to share content and communications, using standard internet connections.
Minimum Requirements – DeskActive Client
- Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, OR
Windows Vista, all versions, OR
Windows Professional 2000, service pack 4 or later. - Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, IE6.0 or later
(Note: these are already part of up-to-date Windows XP or Vista systems). - internet connectivity, dial-up or better.
- Screen resolution 800 * 600 or better.
- CD/DVD player (not required in organisations).
- Keyboard, mouse (preferred).
- Speakers/headphones recommended for audio tips (optional).
- Approximately 500Mb of spare hard drive space for the content archive. For larger organisations, this archive can be located on a single file server for access from all user PCs.
Minimum Requirements – DeskActive Manager
- Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later.
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, DirectX 9.0c or later, IE6.0 or later
(Note: these are already part of up-to-date Windows XP systems). - Internet connectivity, broadband (ADSL, cable or better).
- Screen resolution 1024 * 768 or better.
- CD/DVD player (not required in organisations).
- Keyboard, mouse.
- Speakers/headphones recommended.
- Approximately 1Gb of spare hard drive space for the content archive.
DeskActive Client and DeskActive Manager communicate via a centralised XML web server, normally hosted on DeskActive's secure servers. The central server:
- Allows for communication between Client and Manager applications.
- Stores users' activity programs.
- Distributes new content automatically to users.
- Ensures data is never lost due to a failure of a user's PC.
- Allows users to freely ‘roam’ from PC to PC, maintaining their profile.
- Records all statistical information, to allow sharing with your health & safety team.
As a Microsoft SQL database the system is reliably backed-up and secured, and database redundancy measures are in place to ensure high availability.
Note: some larger organisations choose to host their own copy of the DeskActive Central Communications Server within their intranet/internal network.
Security
DeskActive software performs all communications with the Central Communications Server using an SSL secured web protocol (https), the same technology which secures online banking.
All access is over port 443 only, the standard port used for secure web access, and can be restricted to the ‘deskactive.com’ domain.
The DeskActive Software Distribution Model
DeskActive applications can be freely installed on as many machines as desired by registered users, for example for access from home, office, and a notebook for portable use.
No messy registration keys are required for installation, and upgrades are free.
DeskActive is charged on a subscription basis, in 12 month blocks.
DeskActive Setup
DeskActive is typically delivered as a CD/DVD, or downloaded. It can be installed manually by a user on individual PCs, or for organisation-wide roll-outs it can be configured for silent installation over a Microsoft network.
DeskActive Seamless Content Delivery
From installation all users receive the base DeskActive library (300+ activities and 550+ healthcare advice entries).
As new content is added to the DeskActive library it is automatically distributed to users via periodic background updates, upon approval by your health & safety team. This means that users never need wait for content to download when they start sessions – it has already been downloaded silently for them in the background.
