CACTUS-OS stands for Computer Aided Competency Training and Assurance Operating System. CACTUS-OS offers a set of 21 CFR Part 11 solution products for competency training by integrating open standard SCORM compatible content, SQL database, competency metrics, and seamless computing into a scalable turnkey system.

21 CFR Part 11 is a regulatory requirement issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 for electronic records and electronics signatures. All FDA regulated industries must comply with the rule.

CDE stands for CACTUS Desktop Edition. CDE is a member of the CACTUS-OS family. CDE is configured for single workstation use.

CNE stands for CACTUS Small Network Edition. CNE is a member of the CACTUS-OS family. CNE is configured for 5-concurrent users.

CEE stands for CACTUS Enterprise Edition. CEE is a member of the CACTUS-OS family. CEE is an Intranet based solution that can be configured for 1000’s of concurrent users. CEE also includes SOP Information Management & Competency Executive sub-Systems.

CWT stands for CACTUS Web Training. CWT is a member of the CACTUS-OS family. CWT is an Internet based service. CWT is fully compatible with all other CACTUS-OS members. The database contents, including courses & examinations, trainees, metrics, reports, certificates can be seamlessly connected between CDE-CNE-CEE-CWT.

LIWOT stands for Light Weight On-line Training. LIWOT is an authoring tool for the rapid development & deployment of CACTUS-OS compatible text based courses, tests, & examinations.

(i) Economical with high value: You can start at very limited investment with CWT using already available courses & examinations.
(ii) Flexibility: You can develop simple courses on your own using LIWOT.
(iii) Scalability: You can seamlessly upgrade up to any of the CACTUS-OS products, including to CEE and integrate SOP Quality Management.
(iv) Accountability: Training Needs Analysis, Just-In-Time-Training, and Return-On-Training-Investment will make your management happy.
(v) Compliance: Training validation & training decision support will keep you within regulations. No other solution will come even close to the value provided by CACTUS-OS.

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. SQL has been created to query relational databases, such as MS SQL. SQL exists in several dialects.

EQU stands for Easy Query. EQU is an integrated sub-system of CACTUS-OS products. EQU is able to generate natural language based SQL sentences with variable parameters to query the database. Statistical modeling tools, such as Pareto Diagrams, Control Charts, Correlation Analysis, histograms, and data-mining algorithms can be applied to the data for meaningful interpretation. The results can be displayed in tables and/or graphs.

DQ stands for Design Qualification. DQ measures the suitability of an application requirement relative to the specification and experimental results of the object to be used in the application. For example, is the software I am evaluating able to meet 21 CFR Part 11 requirements, or can I add or modify tests of the training package?

IQ stands for Initial Qualification in CACTUS-OS (IQ can also stand for Installation Qualification). IQ is assigned to the training, if no test is included.

OQ stands for Operational Qualification. OQ is assigned to the training, if test is included.

PQ stands for Performance Qualification. PQ is used to evaluate the effectiveness of training. EQU models have been integrated into CACTUS-OS products for the determination of PQ. PQ can be also considered as a set of competency metrics.

SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. SCORM was created in cooperation between government, academia and industry and it consolidates the work of the Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training (CBT) Committee (AICC), the IMS Global Learning Consortium, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Alliance for Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe (ARIADNE) and others to create one unified "reference model" of interrelated technical specifications, standards and guidelines that meet Department of Defense (DoD) high-level requirements for Web-based learning content to ensure interoperability, transportability, and reuse of e-learning content.

CSCORM stands for CACTUS SCORM compatible content. It is a SCORM requirement relative to CACTUS-OS specification.

CACTUS-OS complements SCORM re-usability and interoperability by providing integrated competency metrics, training validation, and training decision support for Training Needs Analysis, Just-In-Time-Training, and Return-On-Training-Investment.

SQC stands for Statistical Quality Control. SQC contains a broad set of statistical tools from simple, such as histograms, control charts, Pareto diagrams, and correlation diagrams, to complex, such as data-mining, to determine and monitor the effectiveness of quality control. CACTUS-OS includes SQC models to monitor the effectiveness of PQ.

SPC stands for Statistical Process Control. SPC contains a broad set of statistical tools from simple, such as histograms, control charts, Pareto diagrams, and correlation diagrams, to complex such as data-mining, to determine and monitor the effectiveness of processes. CACTUS-OS includes SPC models to monitor the effectiveness of the training process, including Return-On-Training-Investment.

JITT stands for Just-In-Time-Training. JITT time can be determined from Training Needs Analysis trend. JITT can schedule either IQ or OQ training. JITT supports optimization of resources and ROTI.

ROTI stands for Return-On-Training-Investment. EQU model determines ROTI from the amount resources are used to acquire learning objectives. ROTI helps to monitor the economic effectiveness of training and the Economic Value Added (EVA) by training.

Outsourcing means that Opulus is contracted for a CACTUS project. You provide us with the concept and we can provide you the end-product with validation, including the development life-cycle.

Co-sourcing means that a CACTUS project is conducted jointly. Let us assume that the project is the development of a CSCORM course. The tasks may be divided as follows: Opulus provides the templates for you to write the content; Opulus converts the course to CSCORM compatible e-learning; you do the in-process and finished product testing; Opulus does the corrections; you do the final release. Naturally, other configuration of the above project is also possible.

It depends on the type of content you would like to develop. For simple courses and examinations, such as SOP training, one can use LIWOT an easy to learn authoring tool. For complex content, such as the inclusion of multi-media, we can provide you under licensing arrangements with templates for creating the base content from which we can generate the CSCORM compatible courses & examinations complete with validation (i.e., co-sourcing). To qualified members we can even provide the full set of development tools & environment.

SCORM development information can be obtained from the web-site of ADL (Advanced Distributed Learning): www.adlnet.org.

If a SCORM expert can supervise & direct intensive learning, then within a few days you will be able to create SCORM conformant content. However, in a self-learning mode, it may take several months to achieve sufficient competency.

Contact Opulus at info@opulus.com.

Yes. CSCORM (i.e., CACTUS-OS compatible SCORM) is an extension of standard SCORM. Under CACTUS-OS licensing agreement Opulus can provide you with the appropriate resources for the development of CSCORM specific parts.

With the help of EQU Developer Edition. For details contact info@opulus.com.

With the help of EQU Developer Edition. For details contact info@opulus.com.

LIWOT Author an integral part of CWT, CDE, CNE, and CEE.

Yes. CWT Portal provides the resources and support for CACTUS Development Network.

Contact info@opulus.com.

Yes. Opulus certification is required with Royalty Licensing.

Yes. Contact info@opulus.com.

Royalty depends on various parameters, such as author, content value, content size, number of tests, etc.

1 hour.

For trainee 1 hour; for administrator 1 day.

For trainee 1 hour; for administrator 1 day.

For client 1 hour; for administrator 1 week.

The installation of CDE & CNE is no more difficult than MS Office. For the installation of CEE you need IT.

No installation is required. It is ready to be used 24/7.

1 min./trainee.

5-10 min./course.

IQ identifies that learning only has taken place (without verification of testing); OQ identifies that examination with verification has taken place; PQ is a set of query results on training performance.

TNA provides a predictive analysis based on test results when reinforced training and/or examination is required.

Based on Training Needs Analysis, one can determine when reinforced training and/or reinforced examination and/or both are required. This way only the required resources (e.g., time) will consumed.

Learning object is a targeted breakdown of the knowledge covered by the course and the corresponding tests. Each course page and each test is connected to one or more learning objective(s). EQU Performance Qualification relative to the learning objectives can specify in detail the knowledge acquisition characteristics of the learning process and the relevant competency levels of the trainee. This analysis can support virtual auditing of the institute’s regulatory compliance performance.

EQU set of queries includes ROTI analysis and report. We can estimate from the specified parameters how much resource was applied for successful training.

If it is a LIWOT course, then the integrated LIWOT author can do it simply in-house. If it is a CSCORM course, then in the case of CWT, Opulus co-sourcing is required; or, in the case of CDE, CNE, or CEE, CSCORM development utilities and the knowledge to use them are required (co-sourcing is recommended).

If it is a LIWOT course, then the integrated LIWOT author can do it simply in-house. If it is a CSCORM course, then in the case of CWT, Opulus co-sourcing is required; or, in the case of CDE, CNE, or CEE, CSCORM development utilities and the knowledge to use them are required (co-sourcing is recommended).

If it is a LIWOT course, then the integrated LIWOT author can do it simply in-house. If it is a CSCORM course, then in the case of CWT, Opulus co-sourcing is required; or, in the case of CDE, CNE, or CEE, CSCORM development utilities and the knowledge to use them are required (co-sourcing is recommended).

You need EQU Development Edition license, the knowledge to use it, and the relevant source code (co-sourcing is recommended).

You need EQU Development Edition license, the knowledge to use it, and the relevant source code (co-sourcing is recommended).

For existing content, LIWOT or CSCORM development is required.

Upgrades will always mean new courses and examinations. It is requirement to maintain the integrity of the existing results.