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Prototype, Information Systems, Design, MIS, Project Management Software, Management of EDP, Electronic data processing departments -- Management, and Management information systems -- Planning

Prototyping can be applied to building computer information systems, either as an alternative or as a supplement to the traditional approach of systems design and development. The traditional system, which involves developing specifications before any programming is done, often results in both the user and the data processing staff shifting the blame, with no one taking the blame for inadequate systems. In contrast, prototyping uses highly efficient programming languages and other software tools to develop a model of the intended system shortly after discussion of the initial requirements. The model takes the place of written technical specifications. The data processing staff can demonstrate the prototype, get user feedback and make changes until the system is complete.

Technology, Human Factors, User Interface, Prototype, New Technique, Modeling, and Design

A rapid prototyping approach to user interface design may be enhanced by integration with a theory of the users' tasks. The paper discusses various approaches to modelling user tasks including task knowledge structures (TKS) which provides a theory of the structure of task knowledge, together with a method for the identification and modelling of this knowledge. Formal specification languages may be used to provide a precise description of TKS models and to assist in their validation; the use of LOTOS for this purpose is demonstrated. The integration of task knowledge with a rapid prototyping approach to design is introduced in the context of work on the Adept project. A software demonstrator for Adept provides a graphical environment where a task model is used to derive an interface model, which may be further refined to produce an executable prototype. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Manufacturing, Prototype, Mechanical Engineering, Simulation, Design, and Visualization

Increasing competitiveness in the development and manufacturing of mechanically based products requires ever-increasing design and development cycles, and has stimulated the introduction of many computer-based tools to assist with mechanical design and analysis. Currently, strong emphasis is placed upon the effectiveness of such tools, and on their enhancement through improved usability. A major contribution to improved usability is the level of interactiveness of a tool. FEMvis is a tool that provides capabilities for interactive visualization of mechanical engineering analysis, including rotation, translation, and magnification of images; views of shape deformations, their time-evolution, and their superposition; visualizations of scalar fields in two and three dimensions using colored isolevels; blending of shape deformation images and isolevel images; visualizations of three-dimensional phenomena by moving a slicing plane through the image, showing cross-sectional deformations and isolevels; and visualizations of multiple shape deformations and multiple scalar fields during a single usage session. FEMvis has been implemented in a portable language and a portable graphics package, and can run on a spectrum of hardware platforms from workstations to mainframes. It has been applied to the mechanical analysis of direct-access storage devices (DASD), including stress, strain, modal, and deformation analyses. The interactive nature of FEMvis facilitates iterative design refinement and rapid prototyping. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Management, Applications programming, MIS, Strategic Planning, Prototype, Design, Applications programming -- Management, and Management information systems -- Management

The rapid evolutionary development method of software development is an efficient, cost-saving method that relies on rapid prototyping and on system flexibility to respond to users' needs. First of all, developers should plan the project's evolution by interviewing users and dividing their requests into needs, wants and wishes. Next, developers should create a prototype system that resembles the projected finished system as closely as possible, in order to obtain the most useful user feedback possible. Then developers must solicit customer feedback and evaluate the prototype based on that feedback. Developers' final step will be to work to improve the prototype based on users' wishes. Proper use of this methodology will result in better communication, less risk, user satisfaction, education, innovation, lower cycle times, a reduced number of defects and a flexible system.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, Logic Circuitry, Semicustom Integrated Circuits, Design, Reconfiguration, Strathclyde, University of, and Strathclyde, University of -- Curricula

Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are an increasingly important option for electronic systems designers, primarily as a result of rapid advances in CAD and manufacturing technology. As a result there is now a need to include ASIC design methodologies and considerations in undergraduate and postgraduate experience courses in electronic engineering. The paper describes a semicustom design laboratory set-up for teaching such a course at the University of Strathclyde. The main technology chosen for design exercises is the logic cell array (LCA). The unique feature of this device is that its configuration is determined by the contents of an on-chip static memory. This means that the device may be reconfigured an unlimited number of times, which makes it very economical and particularly attractive for educational use. Furthermore, field-programmable semicustom devices such as the LCA allow design exercises to be taken from the concept stage to 'working silicon' in a timescale that is much shorter than other ASIC alternatives. The paper outlines a sequence of design procedures performed in a typical design laboratory. In particular, it describes a low cost LCA prototyping board designed to act as a verification tool for LCA-based circuit development. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Language, Programming Language, Applications, Machine Independence, User-Friendliness, Design, and Technology

One way of classifying computer languages is by two classes: languages needing skilled programmers, and personal languages used by an expanding population of general users. REstructured eXtended eXecutor (REXX) is a flexible personal language designed with particular attention to feedback from its users. It has proved to be effective and easy to use, yet it is sufficiently general and powerful to fulfil the needs of many demanding professional applications. REXX is system and hardware independent, so that it has been possible to integrate it experimentally into several operating systems. Here REXX is used for such purposes as command and macro programming, prototyping, education, and personal programming. This paper introduces REXX and describes the basic design principles that were followed in developing it. (Reprinted by Permission of Publisher.)

Productivity, Software Packages, Design, Task Analysis, Systems Analysis, Software Engineering, Industrial productivity, and Software -- Design and construction

Providing functions users really need and making those functions easy to use are the keys to increasing end-user productivity. Providing useless functions or functions that end users find difficult can penalize system resources and productivity. First-hand knowledge of how users work and understanding their mental models of the tasks involved is required to create useful and usable software. Task analysis involves controlled observations of potential system users performing their regular work. The systems approach looks at how computer systems fit into an organization. Trade-offs between personnel selection, training, tasks, or procedures design and software design can then be made. Standardized user interfaces, prototyping, usability objectives, and testing are some other ways to improve end-user productivity.

Product Development, Design, New Technique, Product Life Cycle, Prototype, Marketing Strategy, Partnership, Manufactures, and Software Modification

Companies that constantly work on improving their products, such as Hewlett-Packard, will gain market acceptance. Unfortunately, iterative prototyping is a product-design technique that is catching on. Prototypes ought to be confined to labs, but some vendors think it is a good idea to get a product out and fix it later. Some examples of 'fine-tuned' products are the following: the Commander program from Peter Norton Computing; the MS-Word 3.0 program from Microsoft; the Paradox program made by Ansa Software; and the Ventura Publisher desktop publishing program, by Xerox.