Black-box tests, Questionnaires, Dodging Motorcycles and Floating Down the Mekong

First of all, please forgive me for my lengthy absence from Blogspot, but now that I am back, I have an awful lot to write about, I just hope there is enough room to cover it all!

I had better start by explaining the reason for my lengthy absence, and it has been a more than interesting and exciting one! Over April, I travelled around South East Asia going through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. The Far East is a part of the world that I have developed an affinity with in a cultural and certainly a culinary sense (the food was fantastic, very varied and full of flavour with a bit of spice). Having previously visited the Far East, this time I wanted to see some parts of it that I didn't get to last time round, particularly Vietnam and Cambodia. At the same time though, it is also interesting to revisit certain places, in this case Bangkok and Chiang Mai, to see what has changed since last time. Also when revisiting places, one often retains a familiarity with key landmarks, which allows for some freedom and confidence for self-exploration.

Angkor Wat at dawn, Cambodia

My Far East adventure took me to some fascinating places, with the obvious highlights being Angkor Wat in Cambodia, James Bond Island in Phuket, Thailand, and the spectacular Halong Bay in Vietnam. In between these particular sights though, there many other fascinating places as well as eye-opening experiences, especially crossing the road in Saigon! Going to the east as a westerner is often a huge step outside one's comfort zone, even if one has been there previously. In western society, we are, for the main part, used to orderliness and consistency of fixed prices, but in the east, it is much more random with prices often determined by haggling or negotiation. The confusion and sometimes frustration that this can present can be similar to how it can feel to be a person with Asperger's Syndrome.

  

Halong Bay, Vietnam

A major factor though when out of one's home comfort zone is often the language barrier, especially if you don't speak the language of the country that you are in and its inhabitants speak little, if any, of your first language. Body language then often becomes a substitute. As a person with Asperger's Syndrome, I have found this aspect of travelling in the east helpful in being able to communicate and recognise body language, including facial expressions and eye contact. Crossing the road in Vietnam also involves this, particularly as traffic doesn't often stop at crossings, instead, when crossing the road in Saigon, you walk into traffic and the motorcycle drivers swerve around you. Adapting this this was an interesting experience as well as re-adapting to the more conventional way of crossing roads when crossing the border back into Thailand where oncoming vehicles don't swerve around you.

 

Phang Nga Bay (James Bond Island), Thailand,
where the 007 film The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) was shot
.

After a month of dodging motorcycles and floating down the Mekong, I am now back at work, where I have been doing my first piece of practical software testing, testing a mobile phone app, which could possibly be a big growth area for Autism Works. In relation to my Asperger traits, I really enjoyed the routine and repetitive nature of the task. Peter was also impressed that I remembered the terminology of the type of testing - Black-Box, testing an application with no knowledge of the code. Elsewhere, I am working with City of Sunderland Council to develop an autism-friendly questionnaire to send to individuals and families affected by autism in Sunderland to collect data, allowing the council to undertake an audit enabling them to plan services more effectively. Even for a person on the autistic spectrum, this is a challenge, but I am finding that my experience of forming job application form and interview questions helpful in picking out and amending ambiguous or abstract questions and statements, including removing them where possible.

Reflections on the Mekong, Laos

While I was away, I managed to reach the first target of my fundraising activity for Daisy Chain - The Bupa Great North Run. To help prepare myself physically for the event, I have registered with Park Run, to take part in some organised runs. The next target to aim at now is Kilimanjaro 2013. A huge thank you to all who have donated so far! To find out more or to donate, please visit the following link - http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-MitchellGNR.

To see how app testing and questionnaire design continues to unfold, as well as fundraising events, stay tuned to Adventures with Autism Works.

Ambigous Defects and Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneer Selection

While writing this blog entry, I am beginning to notice how much more I am beginning to think like a software tester, not only in using the 'blog stubs' method that I have developed, but also in gradually being able to make sense of the processes, as well as being able to apply some of these concepts beyond professional contexts.

Like the game of cricket, software testing is largely over-complicated by jargon. Just from the very title of this entry, you may already have noticed that 'testing speak' is starting to become more visible within my vocabulary, with the use of the term defect. In software testing, the term defect refers to a flaw in a component or system that can cause it to fail to perform its required function. More generally though, a defect refers to a fault that detracts from perfection. Going through the revision questions of the ISEB Foundation Certificate, I am beginning to find much 'defects' in its use of the English language, where another  concept familiar to readers of this blog is also visible - ambiguity!

I have often written here about ambiguity presenting a major challenge to people with Asperger's Syndrome, and also have a piece on this subject in the current edition of The Autism File. Where ambiguity causes 'defects' in the ISEB training material is within multi-choice questions. To start with, I am going to put myself in the unlikely position as a person with Asperger's Syndrome of defending the concept of ambiguity. Multi-choice exams are often dismissed as being 'too easy' or 'like filling in the National Lottery', but where they can be made challenging (which I am sure most would agree that exams should be) is through ambiguity, as long as it makes sense! For ambiguity to make sense in a multiple-choice exam though, you can't have possible answers that use a different word to mean the same thing such as in the following example:

Regulation Acceptance Testing is performed against any regulations that must be what?

A. Understood

B. Read

C. Adhered to

D. Followed

At first, it is apparent that all available answers apply to the question, but then on closer inspection, it becomes clearer that is little difference, if any, between choices C and D. The correct answer is C, but D virtually means the same thing. Ambiguity doesn't just apply to the recruitment process, but it is also present during the training stage and can cause confusion. 

Having been immersed in software testing, as well as blog stubs, something that it also helps me to be mindful of is that when writing a blog entry, issues that I describe often go beyond the blog stubs to add further dimensions to the other aspects of my role at Autism Works, in this case, the Operational Procedures, where I may look at reinforcing guidance on training employees with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Chris Neville-Smith, one of our Test Analysts, has suggested that when we start training new trainee test analysts, it may help to have a 'jargon-buster' guide to help make sense of any ambiguity. 

Kilimanjaro (5895m), Tanzania

Elsewhere, we have had good reason to celebrate this week after being selected from over 300 applications to be a Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneer! Thirty social enterprises, including Autism Works, were selected by Deloitte to receive £1 million worth of support to help grow their business. Outside of work, my training for the Bupa Great North Run is progressing quite well, despite the strain it can put on me physically sometimes! I have now extended my challenge into a double challenge - the Great North Run this year and then in October 2013, hopefully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5895m (19,341ft). 


Sponsorship raised from my Kilimanjaro challenge will go to the Daisy Chain Project. To find out more about my double challenge, click here. Stay tuned to see how this progresses.


I would like to say a huge thank you to all who have so kindly donated to my challenge for Daisy Chain so far, and to feel free to pass this link through your networks.

Stubs, Pies and Lighthouses

This week at Autism Works has seen me take another turn with my software testing training. In last week's entry, I talked about how aspects of the ISEB Foundation in Software Testing Training Course reminded me of previously gained knowledge from university experiences as well as the principles of Buddhism. Having now completed the six lessons of the course, I have started to see aspects of software testing come into my work, including writing this blog and have also benefited from some creative use of training material, similar to what I advocate in my workshops on Asperger's Syndrome for Employers.


When learning about software testing within a life-cycle of a software product, I have come across special-purpose implementation of software components in existing software products, or stubs. this has provided me with a different approach to writing my blog whereby I list 'blog stubs' to expand on, which, I am finding, is very conducive to the way I think in relation to Asperger's Syndrome in a visual and structural sense. The list of blog stubs provides me with a structure, giving me a visual image as to how paragraphs and content will be structured, as well as occasionally enabling me to come up with an image to explain what I am writing about. Autism Works' Test Manager Grayson Cobb did this very effectively in explaining the techniques of statement and branch testing coverage using an image of three pies, to explain the workings of the following code:   
                                               

 
    If A = 3 then
    Display_message A;
    If B = 2 then
    Display_message B;
    Else
    Display_message C;
    Else
    Display_message D;



Unless one has an IT background, the above code is unlikely to make sense initially, as much as it didn't to me, not to mention the relationship with the pies! The first two actions (A=3 and B=2) are both specific and have an equally specific outcome while the next two actions (else) are open. So to do a 'statement test' to ensure the specific actions work you would need to test two actions (A=3 and B=2), but to do a 'branch test', you would need to test all actions. How this works in relation to the pies is that of the three pies, one is mince and the other two are steak, but is unknown which is which, so one would have to taste all three pies to see which one was mince and which two were steak, performing three tests. It became much clearer to me after Grayson used his previous experience as a chef in explaining the process!


Many people with Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism, including myself and, perhaps most famously, Temple Grandin are largely visual thinkers, often benefiting from use of images to understand different working processes, hence the title of one of Temple Grandin's best known works Thinking in Pictures. In relation to how I think visually, I find it especially helpful when learning a new theory or task, in this case a software testing technique, it helps to use an effective visual image or to act a task out enabling me to see the workings of it, and so that I am able to replicate the task effectively.   

Souter Lighthouse, Whitburn,
the world's first electrically-lit lighthouse

Away from work, I have continued with my training for this year's Bupa Great North Run, including doing my first extended outdoor run, running along the coast between Seaburn and Whitburn from lighthouse to lighthouse. My run started and finished at the Old Lighthouse in Seaburn running up to Whitburn's Souter Lighthouse, the world's first electrically-lit lighthouse, before coming back to seaburn, a round trip of six miles. Once I got going, I really began to enjoy it and couldn't stop! Hopefully it will be like this come September 16th 2012! For more information on my challenge, click here. 


Stay tuned to Adventures with Autism Works to see how both my Great North Run and ISEB training progress, as well as how Autism Works continues to develop. 

Moving Office and Learning a New Language

Welcome back to Adventures with Autism Works. This last fortnight has seen some interesting developments for me at Autism Works, not least with regards to what I am learning from the ISEB Foundation in Software Testing Training Course that I am currently doing, and today sees us move into some temporary offices before we move to Milburn House on Dean Street, a little further down the road from our current premises on Grey Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

I feel that I am making quite reasonable progress with the ISEB Foundation course. As well as learning some new terminology and gaining an understanding of software testing tools, I am also finding that there is a lot of similarities in the course to what I have previously studied or practised, from the Management module that I studied as part of my MA (Hons) in Information Management to Buddhist philosophies I have heard described in Dhamma talks delivered by Ajahn Munindo and Ajahn Sumedho.

Much of lessons one and two of the course have been about Quality Assurance, along the theme of preventing defective products from being made through testing rather that allowing defective products from coming off the production line through lack of testing. This reminded me very much of an interview with Tom Peters, the renowned Management Consultant, that I watched when a student at Northumbria University, in which he talks about achieving excellence through assessment techniques and continuously identifying areas for improvement. This was when the concept of management was totally new to me, but in applying such an approach to the present time, Tom Peters recognises that there is no one-size-fits all approach to management consultancy, which is why his service doesn't have a single approach. Rather like the Autism Works recruitment process cannot have a one-size-fits all approach due to the huge difference between individuals on the autistic spectrum, due to the different requirements of software developers, the company can't have a one-size-fits-all approach to testing.

However, an approach that we can employ with whichever testing tool that we approach testing a company's software with is one of our key assets, our independence from the constraints and systems that software developers work under, which as readers of this blog may remember is what we like to market ourselves on at Autism Works. As we are not familiar with the systems and working practices, it can enable to see their work from a different perspective, thus see details more clearly. This is very similar to the 16 knowledges (nanas), central to practising insight meditation, which focus on how we can be 'conditioned' by how we interpret our surroundings, in other words, how our mind can 'edit' how we see the world around us. Another aspect of software testing where Buddhist philosophy can be applied is in communication of truth between the development and testing teams, rather than applying blame, as the developers and testers are on the same side with a joint goal of getting effective and well-tested software to the market quickly. To enable this, it helps to use empathy where necessary.

As I write this piece, we have just moved into temporary accommodation until our preferred new premises are fitted with broadband, which should be in about a month's time. Taking apart desks and furniture for moving reminded me of various comedies involving DIY going wrong! Elsewhere, I have also had some very generous donations for my Bupa Great North Run Challenge over the last two weeks - a huge thank you to all those who have thus far donated. You can visit my Great North Run page at http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-MitchellGNR

Stay tuned to this blog for more adventures in the world of software testing!

Now it's time to do the ISEB, now it's time to keep active!

This week has seen me step into the unknown at Autism Works in starting working towards the ISEB Foundation Certificate. As an industry-recognised qualification for software testing, the ISEB Foundation Certificate could be of great help in my future if I can attain it. Elsewhere, I am continuing with my training for the Bupa Great North Run and have also been to the cinema this week to see The Muppets, which brought back so many magical moments and wonderful memories!

Both starting the ISEB Foundation Certificate and participating in a major half marathon, albeit the latter isn't until  September, represent to me stepping into the unknown, as they are both new territory for me. Stepping into unknown territory has become very much a feature of my time at Autism Works as I seem to have found myself doing it on a regular basis. The biggest change for me to adjust to when I was first appointed as Operational Manager at Autism Works was the working culture in that the working arrangements are so much more flexible than they were at my previous employers where the set-up was much more rigid. With the post being a new post, I understood that the duties and responsibilities were still subject to development. Being able to anticipate such changes in my role though has really helped.

Readers of this blog will be familiar with the concept of unlearning old or conventional methods and practices, which can also mean unlearning habits. Something that I find though with learning new skills, such as learning software testing techniques, is that it is as much about changing the way you think as it is about memorizing jargon as well as various processes. Though it is early days into my ISEB Foundation Certificate (I have only just started), something that I am slowly beginning to pick up is that there are many processes that are complicated by jargon, rather like how the game of cricket can appear to an outsider. Hopefully, the more I become used to the jargon, the more I will be able to familiarise myself with the processes and before long, I may be able to understand what my software-orientated colleagues are talking about!

I was able to take a break from my Great North Run training and my duties at Autism Works earlier in the week to see The Muppets perform their first show together for many years, made possible by Walter, their biggest fan, who got to perform with them. The literal humour and running gags that often featured in the show used to have me in hysterics that I struggled to get out of, as well as Fozzie Bear's jokes being so bad that they were hilarious! I was so delighted to see that they were all just as good and as hilarious this time around, not to mention that they have all aged well, especially Kermit!

I guess in relation to how I am in relation to Asperger's Syndrome, literal humour appeals to me. Comedy is often the world seen through different eyes, including Asperger eyes, but what makes the English language so advantageous to comedy is that there are so many words that sound the same but mean different things. There were one or two parts though in the film that if you have so many affectionate memories of growing up with the show are difficult to watch without shedding a tear, especially when they all joined in to sing 'The Rainbow Connection' together.

Haven't they aged well!

Regarding my half-marathon objective, if anyone is interested in making a donation towards Daisy Chain, the charity I will be running for, my donations page has now gone live on JustGiving. To visit this page, click on the following link- http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-MitchellGNR

Stay tuned to see how this progresses!

 

Warming Up and Overcoming Procrastination

This week has seen Autism Works submit its second round application to the Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneers Award and I have also submitted my entry form for this year's Bupa Great North Run. The latter represents a quite significant step in my life, not least because for much of my life the idea that I would take on such a challenge was unthinkable!

A busy last few days had seen me doing much last-minute research to add weight to Autism Works' application to Deloitte to give a strong case. On the subject of weights, this week I have had a fitness consultation at the gym where I have adapted my training programme to meet my needs for taking on a half-marathon. Obviously, it is not possible to train for such an event entirely in a gym, as one would have to spend quite some time running on a treadmill, not to mention it isn't possible to recreate outdoor conditions in a gym. So as part of my commitment, I am going to make it a goal over the next few weeks to do some more running outside with the weather starting to get a little warmer.

As well as the stamina required for distance running, I found out during my consultation that it will also help to keep the weight-lifting aspect of my training going, as well-tuned muscles provide for more flexibility, greater endurance as well as aiding mental health, thus providing a good foundation on which to run. To aid my mental health, continued mindfulness practice, including some basic yoga stretches should reinforce this. An Asperger quality that helps with such preparation is attention to details such as these, which can make quite a big difference.

The big challenge for me though is to put such details into practice, as at the moment, I still have a tendency to 'procrastinate' a little before starting a training session. I did used to experience this with my meditation and mindfulness practices exercises when I was relatively new to it. It took me quite some time to be able to open to it effectively and go straight in to it, but I am hopeful that I can overcome this over the next few weeks with a little effort.

As I have said, it is a significant step that I have taken in entering such an event. To complete it though will be a giant step for me. Reaching Everest Base Camp to raise funds for the National Autistic Society back in 2009 enabled me to realise that it was possible for me to take on physical challenges, as well as opening me up to a new vocation in life, undertaking physical challenges for charitable purposes. Preparing for the Great North Run to raise funds for Daisy Chain this time represents a continuation of this. I am not aiming to do it within a particular time, but just to complete it will be a major achievement for me. But to make that possible, the hard work starts now.

In the meantime, at Autism Works, work will continue as normal.

Research, Progressive Memory and Vivekarama

Welcome back to Adventures with Autism Works. Let's start with some good news. We are through to the second round of the Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneer Award! We now have another application form to fill in and submit to Deloitte next week. Elsewhere I have agreed to participate in some research at Durham University later this month on prospective memory and also this week, I have made my first visit to Sunderland's new Buddhist temple.

Since I received my Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis back in 1998, I have usually been quite forthcoming in participating in Asperger-related research, as long as it is ethically approved. Often, participation has been quite fun. This time last year, I took part in some research they did on 'autobiographical memory',  including being able to relate past experiences to hypothetical situations. This year, Durham University's Psychology Department are researching 'prospective memory' in both people with an ASC diagnosis (including Asperger's Syndrome) and people not on the autistic spectrum. Quite the opposite of autobiographical memory which relates to long-term recall, prospective memory refers to remembering to carry out a plan or task, such as taking a turkey out of the oven, or turn up to an appointment at the right time such as seeing a doctor, dentist etc.

In the world of psychology, it isn't fully understood how prospective memory works, let alone how it is affected by Asperger's Syndrome. From personal experience though, I have felt that sometimes excessive anxiety and worry associated with Asperger's Syndrome can interfere with immediate priorities in the present. Where I have found myself forgetting to carry out immediate tasks or even just making a start on tasks in hand as well as forgetting to attend appointments or collect important items, including prescriptions, is when I have been preoccupied with worry as to my long-term future.

Quite often, through the obsessive-compulsive tendencies that some people with Asperger's Syndrome appear to have they can become attached to worry and anxiety that it may affect their short-term memory. In previous jobs, something that I used to find was that, though I have a good recall for facts and figures (including those relating to special interests), at the same time when answering phone calls I was often unable to remember the name of the caller when putting calls through! I guess this is one of the more misunderstood aspects of Asperger's Syndrome.

As readers of this blog will most likely recall, I have previously written about how mindfulness practice has helped me tune into the present moment. Relating to this theme, I made my first visit to Vivekarama, Sunderland's new Buddhist temple and meditation centre, which has been opened by Venerable Ashin Nandapala, who was awarded a PhD in Buddhist Studies by Sunderland University in 2011 and has been a monk in the Burmese tradition of Buddhism for over 30 years.

Venerable Ashin Nandapala opens Vivekarama, Sunderland's new Buddhist temple

As well as the Deloitte application, another form I have to fill in is my entry form for the 2012 Bupa Great North Run, a job over the weekend. In the meantime, stay tuned to Adventures with Autism Works.