Design Ideation Framework to Support Reframing and Reformulation

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Sunil Narsale ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Maryam Khorshidi ◽  
Jami J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Analogical Reasoning ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Computer Tool ◽  
Alternative Generation ◽  
Organizational Framework ◽  
Design Ideation

The long term aim of this research is to develop a framework for holistic ideation which will integrate both intuitive and experiential methods. Towards that goal, we have developed a computer tool that consists of a variety of disparate knowledge-bases, databases and design repositories that the designer can choose from as his ideation state evolves. Such a strategy is in contrast with the approach of using a single ideation method/tool. Conceptual design requires both problem formulation/re-formulation and alternative generation. This paper discusses an organizational framework to support reformulation and ideation in a multi-tool environment. The proposed framework consists of cascading hierarchical morphological charts that are dynamic. We also discuss how this framework can be used in supporting provocative stimuli, analogical reasoning and make random or deliberate connections between sub-solutions. Web implementation of the tool will make it available to the design community for education and experimentation.

Design Ideator: A Conceptual Design Toolbox

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Narsale ◽  
Y. Chen ◽  
M. Mohan ◽  
Jami J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Analogical Reasoning ◽  
Divergent Thinking ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aided Design

Computer tools for embodiment and detailed engineering design (computer-aided design (CAD)) evolved rapidly in the past 35 years and are now pervasive throughout the industry. But todays commercial CAD is geometry-centric, not appropriate for early stages of design when detailed geometry and dimensions are not known. This paper describes a framework and a set of interconnected tools for conceptual design. In this system, a broad range of intuitive and experiential concept generation methods have been operationalized and implemented as databases, artifact repositories, knowledge bases, and interactive procedures to promote divergent thinking. The so-called “Design Ideator” includes methods for flexible and dynamic design problem formulation, re-formulation, and restructuring in the form of hierarchical and re-configurable morphological charts. This tool has been continuously enhanced through three phases of user studies and feedback. The main contributions of this work are as follows. First, this research has created a holistic framework with interlaced knowledge bases from a wide range of methods, as opposed to past research that have relied on single experiential only method. Second, we have formulated algorithms to support several intuitive methods, such as contextual shifting, analogical reasoning, provocative stimuli, and combinatorial play.

Multi-Modal Knowledge Bases to Facilitate Conceptual Mechanical Design

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Seok Park ◽  
Sumit Sunil Narsale ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Mani ◽  
Jami J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Interactive System ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Web Based ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Abstraction Levels

Over the past several years we have been building a variety of knowledge bases and tools to support conceptual design of mechanical systems. Both intuitive and logical methods have been embedded into system. An interactive system for concept generation and synthesis based on hierarchical morphological charts has been implemented to serve as an organizational framework. Knowledge bases span a wide range of abstraction levels, from physical effects and working principles at one end, to artifact repositories, linkages/mechanisms and common machine elements. Existing knowledge bases from various sources were combined with those developed in-house to create a comprehensive set. User studies on two previous versions of the tool gave us valuable information about enhancements and improvements, both to the knowledge and to the user interface. This paper describes the third incarnation of our Testbed. The methods are now grouped into six modules: Problem Formulation, Re-formulation, Searching for Standard Solutions, Generating sub-solutions from first principles, Gateways to External Resources, Synthesis and Process Monitoring. In addition, users can monitor their state and process. Multilayer morphological charts provide more flexible options as well as customizable solution sets to users. The Testbed is implemented as a web based application implemented in CakePHP (MVC) and PHP. For storing and retrieving data SQLite was used. This Testbed has the dual purpose of design facilitation for novices and for research on conceptual design and creativity.

An educational computer tool for simulating long-term soil erosion on agricultural landscapes

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Jiménez-Hornero ◽  
J. V. Giráldez ◽  
A. M. Laguna ◽  
J. E. Jiménez-Hornero
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Computer Tool ◽  
Educational Computer

scholarly journals Assessment of Implicit Interests through an Unobtrusive Computer Task. Their Relations with Career Decision, Anxiety, and Personality Traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12366
Author(s):  
Antoni Castelló ◽  
Ramon Cladellas
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Compulsory Education ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
Computer Tool ◽  
Efficient Tool ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Career Preferences ◽  
Important Shift

Adolescence is a period where youngsters still do not know much about themselves. That makes some decisions, like those concerning vocational elections, a complicated issue that has important consequences for their life. The main goal of this piece of research is to measure implicit interests using a situated, unobtrusive computer tool (PrUnAs: Preferences Unobtrusive Assessment) as well as its connection with anxiety and personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, self-efficacy, optimism, consciousness, and openness. Sample: 304 16-year-old adolescents enrolled in the last course of compulsory education. Instruments: Computer programs were used to measure implicit interests, career preferences, and to self-descript personality traits; finally, the paper-and-pencil test Stai was applied to measure anxiety. Results: Concordance between implicit interests and explicit choices was less than 50%. The software developed for assessing implicit interests not only proved to be an efficient tool to make them arise but also a good predictor of anxiety. Conclusions: Implicit interests and explicit elections are not the same. The approach from implicit preferences is an important shift in the approximation to vocational guiding and to reduce youngsters’ indecision level. Beyond vocational choice, this information may improve the short- and long-term quality of life and mental health.

Towards a Framework for Holistic Ideation in Conceptual Design

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manikandan Mohan ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Jami J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Ideation Methods

The long term aim of this research is to develop a framework for holistic ideation. Towards that goal, we are investigating the components of ideation (both logical and intuitive), characterization of ideation states, ideation blocks and strategies used to overcome such blocks. One of the major contributions of this research is the method by which the experiential and the intuitive ideation methods are interlaced together, to support both creativity and functional quality. Another important part of the framework is the identification of creativity blocks and investigation of matching ideation strategies most likely to facilitate progress. This framework will also be used as a research tool to collect large amount of data from designers about their choice of ideation strategies used, and their effectiveness.

Creating continuous areas of old forest in long-term forest planning

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1817-1823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Öhman
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Present Value ◽  
The Core ◽  
Long Range Planning ◽  
The Cost

Harvest activities tend often to create landscapes where the old forest is fragmented into isolated patches that provide marginal conditions for species that inhabit forest interiors. This paper presents a long-range planning model designed to maximize the net present value and to create continuous patches of old forest. In this model, the spatial structure of old forest is controlled by core area and edge habitats. Core area is defined as the area of old forest that is free of edge effects from surrounding habitats. The core area requirement is set to a fixed value for each of a number of time periods, whereas the area of edge habitats, which should be as small as possible, is weighted against the net present value. The model is applied in a case study to an actual landscape consisting of 755 stands of forest in northern Sweden and solved using simulated annealing. The results show that distinct continuous patches of old forest are created when both a core area requirement and consideration of the amount of edge habitats are included in the problem formulation. The cost of creating continuous areas of old forest was found to be significant.

Conceptual Design for Assembly

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago V. Lombeyda ◽  
William C. Regli
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Level Structure ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Design Engineers ◽  
Cad Databases ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
High Level ◽  
Case Based

Abstract This paper presents an approach to support computer-aided conceptual design of mechatronic assemblies in a collaborative, multi-user environment. We describe a system, Conceptual Understanding and Prototyping (CUP), that allows a team of design engineers, collaborating over the Internet, to develop a high-level structure-function-behavior (S-B-F) description of an assembly in a VRML-based virtual environment. Our goal is to enable users to navigate intricate product data management (PDM) and case-based design knowledge-bases, providing the ability to perform design at conceptual level and have intelligent CAD tools that can draw on details from large repositories of previously archived designs. This work furthers research efforts in computer support for collaborative design activities — drawing on work in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW). We envision CUP to be a network interface to next-generation of engineering PDM systems and CAD databases. We are deploying CUP as query interface to the National Design Repository (http://repos.mcs.drexel.edu). This will enable CAD users to interrogate large quantities of legacy data and identify artifacts with structural and functional similarities — allowing designers to perform case-based and variant design.

Realistic Problem Formulation and Problem Solving

1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 430-434
Author(s):  
Anthony Ralston ◽  
Stephen S. Willoughby
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Second Graders ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Realistic Problem ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
The Way

Moreover, we seldom introduce students to problems that lend themselves to long-term, in-depth analysis at different levels of intellectual accomplishment. In this article, we discuss such a problem, one that allows significant mathematical endeavor beginning with second graders and extending all the way through college undergraduates.

Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms’ Performance in a Support Role

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Woodruff ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
Patrick M. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Algorithms ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Parameter Space ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Diagnostic Assessment ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Assessment Study

This paper presents a diagnostic assessment study, evaluating five leading multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) on their effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, and controllability on four different formulations of the same benchmark conceptual design problem, using the same underlying model. This assessment entails a broad sampling of the parameter space of each MOEA, for each problem formulation, requiring millions of optimization runs and trillions of model evaluations. The results of this assessment show the strengths and limitations of these MOEAs, establishing the Borg MOEA as a leading algorithm.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document