36C-6 |
|
E. F. MORALES-BLANCAS1, M. A. Gutierrez1, and J. A. Torres2. (1) Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (ICYTAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja s/n, Valdivia, Chile, (2) Food Process Engineering Group, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State Univ., 100 Wiegand Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6602 Knowledge of thermal properties is essential when designing and evaluating processes and equipment. Many predictive methods for thermal properties of foods can be found in the literature as computer models and they are usually referred to as computer-aided methods. Windows-based software is now becoming available as web-based software. A web-based application is software running from a web server. Similar to a website, web-based software simply requires a browser (Internet Explorer and Netscape, among others), and they have dramatically increased the flow and value of information. In the case of food process engineering, a literature and Internet search revealed that a web-based application for thermal properties calculations is not yet available. Our goal was to implement web-based software for thermal properties calculations with worldwide access by students, faculty, and professionals working in the food industry. Two separate approaches found in the literature to determine thermal properties of foods were implemented into the web-based application. One of them is referred to as the "binary solution approach," and the other as the "fractional composition approach." The web-based application was developed using Microsoft Visual Studio.Net. This required the creation of dynamic web pages to transfer the computer code into a web environment. The web-based application operates under any Windows platform and web browser combination. The web-based software developed (WebFoodproperty) is available at the following URL: http://www.foodnetsoft.uach.cl. Demonstrations of the use of this web-based application will be conducted at the Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists. WebFoodproperty can be used as a teaching tool for on-site and distance education. It can also be used as a calculation tool for professionals in the food industry. Users can gain quick and timely access to this web-based application, anytime and from anywhere in the world.
Session 36C, Education: General
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |