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software engineering, business analyst training, higher education, soft skill improvement, practical application, prototyping and interview methodology, Education, and Technology

Traditionally university students lack motivation in subjects that are more focused on documentation and theory. This problem only deepens with each new generation. A practical workshop approach has been implemented in the subject “Analysing system requirements and specifications”. Its place in the curriculum is explained. A technique for developing innovation and prototypes, used by Google for motivation is described. The method of its’ implementation is thoroughly documented. A brief experiment in the form of a workshop is described and the gathered data is analysed. A survey on student feedback is conducted and the results are discussed. Influence on student soft skills improvement is evaluated. An observation on using the methodology as an introductory workshop to break the ice with engineering students is made. The conclusions made based on the feedback data and discussions with students show that the methodology is successful and student motivation and attendance is increased.

rapid prototyping, dental model, ceramic masses, Mining engineering. Metallurgy, and TN1-997

The paper presents the creation of a dental bridge through two rapid prototyping technologies, SLA and FDM. The dental bridge model was made in a dental laboratory, being used later for 3D printing, through rapid prototyping, using the two technologies, FDM and SLA.

application, naive bayes, private school, prototyping, web-based, Mathematics, QA1-939, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Private schools need help in handling school fees and financial processes. Traditional manual payment systems result in data processing issues, delayed financial reporting, and complications from misplaced records. Late fee payments threaten school income, which is crucial for staff salaries. Modern solutions are imperative. Desktop applications have limitations, requiring installation on specific devices, leading to compatibility concerns. This research opts for a web-based application. It employs prototyping models and predictive abilities using the Naïve Bayes algorithm. The web-based application aims to streamline fee management and predict payment delays, enhancing financial transaction management while prioritizing data security through database encryption. This web-based solution aligns with private schools' operational needs, simplifying payments and increasing late payment prediction accuracy. Extensive black-box testing validated its suitability, satisfying administrative staff needs. Four test cases gained administrative team approval. This innovation empowers private schools to optimize operations and financial management. In summary, the research tackles critical financial challenges private schools face by introducing a web-based application that simplifies payment processes, enhances accuracy in predicting late payments, and aligns seamlessly with administrative needs.

Barium strontium titanate components, Rapid prototyping, Gelcasting, RPGC process, Net shape processing, Properties, Clay industries. Ceramics. Glass, and TP785-869

Barium strontium titanate (BSTO) is a ceramic that finds application as a high-storage capacitor, sensor, detector, transducer and in tuneable microwave devices and as filters. This paper discusses the synthesis of slurries with suspended particles and fabrication of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 components of different shapes and dimensions using environmentally friendly gelling systems like Isobam and methylcellulose, and also the widely used, but toxic, methyl acrylamide system. Suitable moulds made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are fabricated by rapid prototyping and a concentrated slurry of the required ceramic is set in it by gelcasting; the process is referred to as RPGC process. The green body is further processed to obtain a density higher than 98 %. The sintered products are evaluated by measuring density, microstructure and dielectric properties. This work opens up the possibility of adopting the versatile RPGC process with non-toxic organics for applications by industries.

MICROFLUIDIC devices, RAPID prototyping, CANCER cell culture, ATOMIC force microscopy, SCANNING electron microscopy, and TISSUE culture

The application of microfluidic devices as next-generation cell and tissue culture systems has increased impressively in the last decades. With that, a plethora of materials as well as fabrication methods for these devices have emerged. Here, we describe the rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices, using micromilling and vapour-assisted thermal bonding of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), to create a spheroid-on-a-chip culture system. Surface roughness of the micromilled structures was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing that the fabrication procedure can impact the surface quality of micromilled substrates with milling tracks that can be readily observed in micromilled channels. A roughness of approximately 153 nm was created. Chloroform vapour-assisted bonding was used for simultaneous surface smoothing and bonding. A 30-s treatment with chloroform-vapour was able to reduce the surface roughness and smooth it to approximately 39 nm roughness. Subsequent bonding of multilayer PMMA-based microfluidic chips created a durable assembly, as shown by tensile testing. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were cultured as multicellular tumour spheroids in the device and their characteristics evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Spheroids could be successfully maintained for at least three weeks. They consisted of a characteristic hypoxic core, along with expression of the quiescence marker, p27kip1. This core was surrounded by a ring of Ki67-positive, proliferative cells. Overall, the method described represents a versatile approach to generate microfluidic devices compatible with biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative AI, Prototyping, Engineering Design, ChatGPT, Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, R858-859.7, Science (General), and Q1-390

The TrollLabs Open dataset includes comprehensive information that offers a comparison of design practices and outcomes between human participants and Generative AI during a hackathon event. The dataset was curated through the running of a prototyping hackathon designed to assess the abilities and performance of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, in the early stages of engineering design. This assessment involved comparing ChatGPT's performance to that of experienced engineering students in a hackathon setting, where participants competed by making a prototype that fires a NERF dart as far as possible. In this setup, all ideas, concepts, strategies, and actions undertaken by the AI-controlled team were autonomously generated by the ChatGPT, without human intervention or guidance, but implemented by two participants. Five self-directed baseline teams competed against the AI team. The dataset comprises 116 prototype entries and 433 edges (connection) that enable comparative analysis of design practices and performance between the team instructed solely by generative AI and baseline teams of experienced engineering design students. Prototypes and their attribute data were captured using Pro2booth, an online prototype capture platform running on participants' phones and computers. The dataset includes a transcript of the conversation between ChatGPT and the team responsible for implementing its recommendations, featuring 97 exchanges of prompts and responses. It contains the initial prompt used to instruct the AI, the objective and rules of the hackathon and the objective performance of teams, showing the ChatGPT team finishing 2nd among six teams. To the authors' knowledge, the TrollLabs Open dataset is the first and only open resource that directly compares the performance of generative AI with human teams in an engineering design context. Thus, it is intended to be a valuable resource to design researchers, engineering and design students, educators, and industry professionals seeking to find strategies for implementing generative AI tools in their design processes. By offering a comprehensive data collection, the dataset enables external researchers to conduct in-depth analyses that could highlight the practical implications of integrating generative AI in design practices, possibly providing an overview of its limitations and presenting recommendations for improved integration in the design process.

Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Interactive Rapid Prototyping, 3D Printing, Computer software, QA76.75-76.765, Computer engineering. Computer hardware, and TK7885-7895

In the development of new products by the industry, a rapid prototyping stage is recommended so that an initial version of the product can be evaluated. In this way, any necessary corrections can be applied while still in the prototyping stage, preventing design errors from reaching the final product. Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D Printing are techniques that have become ubiquitous in recent years due to the reduction of equipment costs. Several works in the area of rapid prototyping have been developed with one of these techniques in isolation; a few works have tried to unite these two tools. In this work, we propose a new functional rapid prototyping process, combining 3D Printing and AR to create functional interactive prototypes. This process is accomplished by projecting the AR onto the 3D-printed prototype. It interprets the user’s gestures on the physical prototype, converting clicks and touches into actions to be executed on the AR virtual prototype, making the prototype functional and interactive. The proposed system is evaluated by means of case studies and the application of the UEQ (User Experience Questionnaire) to users who have tested the system. This way, it is possible to evaluate the relevance of the proposed process.

Membaca cepat, Bahasa Inggris, Progressive Web App, Prototyping, Pengujian Usability, Technology, Information technology, and T58.5-58.64

Membaca merupakan proses memahami, menafsirkan, dan mengekstraksi informasi dari serangkaian kata yang memerlukan waktu. Melalui internet, akses membaca semakin luas dengan adanya konten seperti artikel, e-book, jurnal, dan lainnya yang mayoritas disajikan dalam bahasa Inggris. Melalui survei terhadap 30 mahasiswa mengenai kegiatan membaca cepat dan relevansinya terhadap bahasa Inggris, sebanyak 76.7% darinya tidak mengetahui kecepatan membaca mereka dan 56.7% mengaku sering membaca teks berbahasa Inggris. Ada baiknya jika kemampuan membaca cepat dilatih dengan penggunaan bahasa Inggris untuk membangun motivasi terhadap literasi digital yang luas. Melalui pengamatan tersebut, dikembangkan aplikasi berbasis progressive web app (PWA) menggunakan metode SDLC prototyping. Melalui proses prototyping sebanyak 2 kali iterasi, dihasilkan aplikasi PWA ‘Speed Reader’ yang bertujuan untuk membantu berlatih membaca cepat secara senyap dengan materi bacaan berbahasa Inggris. Hasil evaluasi pengujian menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi ini kompatibel pada perangkat mobile dan dapat berjalan secara cross-browser. Setiap fitur berhasil dijalankan dengan tingkat validitas 100% pada pengujian efektivitas. Melalui pengujian efisiensi, didapatkan waktu penyelesaian tugas sebesar 0,156 tugas per detik. Hasil pengujian kepuasan pengguna melalui pengukuran System Usability Scale (SUS) mencapai nilai 84 dengan kategori grade B dan tergolong acceptable. Dengan demikian, dapat disimpulkan bahwa pengguna berhasil mencapai tujuan mereka dan aplikasi ini layak untuk digunakan. Abstract Reading is a process of understanding, interpreting, and extracting information from a series of words that takes time. The internet has significantly broadened reading access, providing abundant content like articles, e-books, journals, predominantly in English. A survey conducted among 30 students explored their engagement in speed reading and its relevance to English. Surprisingly, 76.7% of participants were unaware of their reading speed, while 56.7% acknowledged frequent reading of English texts. To foster extensive digital literacy, it is advisable to train speed reading skills specifically using the English language. Based on this observation, a Progressive Web App (PWA) was developed utilizing the SDLC prototyping method. The development of an app called 'Speed Reader' was aimed to facilitate the practice of silent speed reading with English materials. Evaluation tests demonstrated the application's compatibility with mobile devices and its cross-browser functionality. Each feature achieved a 100% validity rate in effectiveness testing. Moreover, efficiency testing revealed a task completion time of 0.156 tasks per second. User satisfaction assessments, conducted using the SUS method, yielded a score of 84, categorizing it as grade B and considered acceptable. It can be concluded that the users have successfully achieved their goals, and this application is deemed suitable.

Prototyping, Collaboration, idea advancement, Technology (General), T1-995, Technological innovations. Automation, and HD45-45.2

Prototyping is a core activity in developing new products, processes, and organisations alike. This paper describes the prototyping activities of 31 engineering design professionals in a high-technology industrial company, examining the distribution of different types of activities across different phases of development based on thematic interviews. Examining 62 prototyping and testing pathways, we found that most prototyping paths started with the practitioners’ own activities, which was also more likely to lead to paths with more prototyping steps than if the first prototyping activity took place with a stakeholder. Overall, the paths were short, indicating a lack of iteration. Both internal and external stakeholders were involved in collaborative prototyping. This collaboration was enabled by personal and unit level relationships, and different stakeholders were involved in different phases of development. Taken together, our results suggest that practitioner attention in prototyping may focus on latter development phases and demonstrate less iteration than what literature might suggest, with opportunities for prototyping highly dependent on personal networks in the high-technology context in the absence of flexible prototyping budgets.

Medicine and Science

Abstract The application of microfluidic devices as next-generation cell and tissue culture systems has increased impressively in the last decades. With that, a plethora of materials as well as fabrication methods for these devices have emerged. Here, we describe the rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices, using micromilling and vapour-assisted thermal bonding of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), to create a spheroid-on-a-chip culture system. Surface roughness of the micromilled structures was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing that the fabrication procedure can impact the surface quality of micromilled substrates with milling tracks that can be readily observed in micromilled channels. A roughness of approximately 153 nm was created. Chloroform vapour-assisted bonding was used for simultaneous surface smoothing and bonding. A 30-s treatment with chloroform-vapour was able to reduce the surface roughness and smooth it to approximately 39 nm roughness. Subsequent bonding of multilayer PMMA-based microfluidic chips created a durable assembly, as shown by tensile testing. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were cultured as multicellular tumour spheroids in the device and their characteristics evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Spheroids could be successfully maintained for at least three weeks. They consisted of a characteristic hypoxic core, along with expression of the quiescence marker, p27kip1. This core was surrounded by a ring of Ki67-positive, proliferative cells. Overall, the method described represents a versatile approach to generate microfluidic devices compatible with biological applications.

ChatGPT, Large language model, Technology acceptance model, Prototyping Theory, Science, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

This paper explores the paradigm of leveraging ChatGPT as a benchmark tool for theory prototyping in conceptual research. Specifically, we conducted two experimental studies using the classical technology acceptance model (TAM) to demonstrate and evaluate ChatGPT's capability of comprehending theoretical concepts, discriminating between constructs, and generating meaningful responses. Results of the two studies indicate that ChatGPT can generate responses aligned with the TAM theory and constructs. Key metrics including the factors loading, internal consistency reliability, and convergence reliability of the measurement model surpass the minimum threshold, thus confirming the validity of TAM constructs. Moreover, supported hypotheses provide an evidence for the nomological validity of TAM constructs. However, both of the two studies show a high Heterotrait–Monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT) among TAM constructs, suggesting a concern about discriminant validity. Furthermore, high duplicated response rates were identified and potential biases regarding gender, usage experiences, perceived usefulness, and behavioural intention were revealed in ChatGPT-generated samples. Therefore, it calls for additional efforts in LLM to address performance metrics related to duplicated responses, the strength of discriminant validity, the impact of prompt design, and the generalizability of findings across contexts.

RAPID prototyping, STRAIN hardening, TENSILE tests, TORQUE, and MATERIALS testing

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using non-standard miniaturized tensile specimens (MTS) to characterize the formability features of interstitial-free (IF) steel, specifically DX57 steel. The motivation behind this research is to gain insight into the accuracy of predicted values for the steel's formability using the designed non-standard MTS, which could potentially be used to test materials obtained from rapid alloy prototyping (RAP) routines. Tensile tests were conducted using both standard bars and non-standard MTS with different angles to the rolling directions (0 o , 45 o , and 90 o) and the experiment results were used to determine the material properties for the following numerical simulations, which were based on the cross-die deep drawing concept. The results show that the non-standard MTS over-predicted the strain hardening exponent compared to the values obtained from the standard tensile bars. For the same punch stroke, the non-standard miniatured tensile specimen under-predicted the punch force. However, for the deformed blank, the thickness variation along different paths was compared, and the maximum thickness value difference was found to be less than 5%. In terms of the forming limit diagram (FLD), the MTS's prediction is very close to the standard test-piece's prediction; the overall major-minor strain status of the deformed blank is similar. The results of this research provide confidence in the ability to evaluate formability from small-scale tensile tests for heterogeneous alloys such as synthetic IF steels developed during RAP. • We modelled the cross-die deep drawing process using various yield models. • The miniaturized tensile specimen predicts a strain hardening exponent value approximately 18.5% larger. • The miniaturized tensile specimen resulted in an under-prediction of the punch force and the moment when damage appeared. • The utilization of miniaturized tensile specimens offers a cost-effective approach to evaluate target steel's formability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

rehabilitative robotics, compliant actuation, robotic control, upper limb exoskeleton, rapid control prototyping, Technology, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Physics, QC1-999, Chemistry, and QD1-999

In the last decade, robotic-mediated rehabilitation has emerged as a potential solution to improve repetitive task training. Each device in this field has a unique development history shaped by engineers’ expertise in specific programming languages or platforms. In this work we adopt an approach that tries to abstract from the final implementation with the aim to make control logic more shareable and understandable. The authors will present the outcomes of the application of a Rapid Control Prototyping strategy to an upper-limb robotic exoskeleton. A model-based design approach implemented on a real-time target machine is presented. This modern design approach was explored with several control strategies and was used to test the exoskeleton’s performances. The proposed method highlights how it is possible to develop the entire control architecture in a single programming environment.

wax-based printing, prototyping, micromachining, Mechanical engineering and machinery, and TJ1-1570

A wax-based contact printing method to create microfluidic devices is demonstrated. This printing technology demonstrates a new pathway to rapid, cost-effective device prototyping, eliminating the use of expensive micromachining equipment and chemicals. Derived from the traditional Ukrainian Easter egg painting technique called “pysanky” a series of microfluidic devices were created. Pysanky is the use of a heated wax stylus, known as a “kistka”, to create micro-sized, intricate designs on the surface of an egg. The proposed technique involves the modification of an x-y-z actuation translation system with a wax extruder tip in junction with Polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) device fabrication techniques. Initial system optimization was performed considering design parameters such as extruder tip size, contact angle, write speed, substrate temperature, and wax temperature. Channels created ranged from 160 to 900 μm wide and 10 to 150 μm high based upon system operating parameters set by the user. To prove the capabilities of this technology, a series of microfluidic mixers were created via the wax technique as well as through traditional photolithography: a spiral mixer, a rainbow mixer, and a linear serial dilutor. A thermo-fluidic computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was generated as a means of enabling rational tuning, critical to the optimization of systems in both normal and extreme conditions. A comparison between the computational and experimental models yielded a wax height of 57.98 μm and 57.30 μm, respectively, and cross-sectional areas of 11,568 μm2 and 12,951 μm2, respectively, resulting in an error of 1.18% between the heights and 10.76% between the cross-sectional areas. The device’s performance was then compared using both qualitative and quantitative measures, considering factors such as device performance, channel uniformity, repeatability, and resolution.