ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR A BETTER COOPERATION IN MULTI-CULTURE COLLABORATIVE MECHANICAL DESIGN

Issue title: COMPUTER SUPPORTED COOPERATIVE WORK IN DESIGN

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Thouvenin, Indira | Abel, Marie-Hélène | Ramond, Bruno | Qamhiyah, Abir

Affiliations: UTC, Universite de Technologie Compiègne, Roberval UMR 6066 – France | UTC, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Heudiasyc UMR 6599 – France | UTC, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Laboratoire CQP2 – France | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, USA

Abstract: In this paper a real example of a globally distributed collaborative design project is analyzed. Some of the problems identified as a result of this analysis include: 1- the lack of a complete design environment prior to the modeling stage, and 2- the need for a flexible and intuitive collaborative environment. To address these problems we propose some preliminary research results of task ontology, common to both cultures, in order to provide globally distributed design teams with a personal assistant agent.

Keywords: Computer aided design, collaborative and distributed design, task ontology, personal assistant agent

Journal: Journal of Integrated Design & Process Science, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 131-142, 2003