INFORMATION resources management, RAPID prototyping, INDUSTRIAL surveys, COMPUTER software developers, SYSTEMS design, and ORGANIZATION

Many proposed contingencies regarding the conditions when the use of prototyping will lead to successful system development appear in the literature. Using an industry survey, this exploratory study empirically investigates the effect of certain contingencies on system success. Overall, results indicate that five variables, when combined with prototyping, affect system success (as indicated by user satisfaction): innovativeness of the project, impact of the system on the organization, user participation, number of users, and developer experience with prototyping. These results provide some insight into the proper uses of prototyping to improve system success. The results also indicate that several of the current contingencies, if followed, do not ensure high levels of system success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, PROTOTYPES, JOB analysis, INFORMATION resources management, SYSTEMS design, ORGANIZATIONAL change, and CORPORATE culture

This article assesses the effectiveness of the prototyping approach to information systems development. In this investigation of the effectiveness of the prototyping approach, user and designer attitudes are explored through field interviews and a laboratory experiment. The research findings concerning the impact of the prototyping approach on designers and users of information systems provide some insight into the effectiveness of the prototyping approach. A prototyping effort should be undertaken by designers and users who are well informed about the prototyping approach. Prototyping philosophy and plans should be understood by both designers and users. Prototyping is a new approach to information systems development, and like any organizational innovation, it needs a supportive organizational climate. Prerequisites to successful prototyping include technological tools that facilitate fast response to user requests and motivated and knowledgeable users and designers. In summary, the prototyping approach offers an opportunity to achieve favorable user attitudes toward the design process and the information system.

SYSTEMS design, SYSTEMS development, RAPID prototyping, PROTOTYPES, SYSTEM analysis, INFORMATION resources management, MATHEMATICAL optimization, SPECIFICATIONS, COMPUTER science, and MANAGEMENT information systems

Although relatively recent in information systems design, the prototyping technique has a long tradition in developing engineering systems. An engineering system is defined as any artificial system that performs actions to achieve a desired transformation of objects undergoing a change of state. We will review the application of and experience with prototyping in engineering systems design and relate these to the development of information systems.
Drawing on the strong similarities between the design processes of engineering systems and information systems results in the identification of a number of different types of prototypes that can be used for a variety of purposes and integrated into the various stages of the systems development life cycle. The experience gained from applying the prototyping method in the design of engineering systems permits us to exploit its advantages and to avoid its misapplications when it is used in information systems development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, PROTOTYPES, SOFTWARE engineering, COMPUTER software development, USER interfaces (Computer systems), and SYSTEMS design

Prototyping, a method and technique frequently used in many engineering disciplines, has been adopted as a technique in software engineering to improve the calculation of new projects involving risks. However, there has so far been a lack of documented experience with the use of prototyping in industrial software production. The present work tries to close this gap. First, we introduce central prototyping concepts and terminology. In the subsequent section we present five industrial software projects in which explicit use was made of prototyping. Based on our analysis of these projects we present the resulting conclusions: prototyping means more than rapidly developing user interfaces; prototyping is a central part of a development strategy; prototyping means end user involvement; finding the right mixture of prototypes improves the development process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COMPUTERS, MANAGEMENT information systems, PERSONAL computers, SYSTEM analysis, MARKETING research, and RAPID prototyping

A prototyping development method is presented here which has the potential to reduce the growing application development backlog. Prior research and our findings indicate that a prototyping process can assist in the efficient development of application systems by breaking a complex problem into several comprehensive parts.
A state-transition model of the IS development process is presented and discussed. A two-prototype method is explained in the context of this model. Two projects are described which are typical of development efforts made by end users in a microcomputer environment and IS specialists in a mainframe environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYSTEMS development, INFORMATION resources management, COMPUTER software, NEW product development, KNOWLEDGE management, INFORMATION technology, MANAGEMENT information systems, SYSTEM analysis, RAPID prototyping, INDUSTRIAL management, and BUSINESS planning

Leading MIS executives and academicians have identified systems development as one of the most critical issues of the 1980s. Their concerns include providing user accessibility to stored information, reducing development cost and delay, increasing developer productivity, and increasing MIS's impact on organizational growth, productivity, and profitability. Among the number of proposed alternative approaches to traditional systems development, prototyping is mentioned frequently. Prototyping is routine in hardware development but not software. The authors review published references to prototyping and related concepts and synthesize a process model for information systems. In this model, resource requirements are enumerated and discussed. The article includes an analysis of the economics of prototyping, and a brief discussion of several examples. Prototyping for information systems development addresses today's critical issues; it will no doubt raise a new set of research questions for tomorrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

USER interfaces (Computer systems), HUMAN-computer interaction, SYSTEMS design, COMPUTER science, SYSTEMS development, and TECHNOLOGICAL innovations

The interfaces of computer systems embedded in certain types of consumer electronic products are frequently targets of criticism. Perhaps the most frequently cited examples of poor user interfaces are those associated with videocassette recorders. Two of the obvious consequences of poorly developed human-computer interfaces are first a considerable portion of the population is unable to benefit from the primary functionality of these products and second the loss of potential recording tape sales represented by the flashing clocks. Storyboard prototyping can be defined as a technique designed to generate consensus and closure via a tangible, interactive systems concept. Inspired by Scandinavian research into cooperative design, the thrust of the Cooperative Interactive Storyboarding Prototyping (CISP) approach is to more actively involve users in the prototype interface development. CISP empowers users with tools and techniques encouraging them to interactively contribute to real-time, storyboard use, evaluation and modification. Crucial here is the concept of the role of the user changing from reviewer to codeveloper.

PROTOTYPES, SYSTEM analysis, MANAGEMENT science, SYSTEMS development, SYSTEMS design, and DECISION support systems

While prototyping has become an important topic in systems analysis and design, several questions remain unanswered. This paper addresses issues related to the implementation and function of prototyping in the traditional systems development life cycle. A definition of prototyping and a theoretical justification of the approach are developed. Finally, a model is presented which assists analysts and users in determining when, and to what extent, to use prototyping either along with or as a replacement for traditional systems development techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYSTEMS design, FINITE element method, PERMANENT magnet motors, GENETIC algorithms, POWER density, ELECTROMAGNETIC fields, and COMPUTER simulation

This paper presents an axial-flux permanent magnet motor optimized by the genetic algorithm (GA)-based sizing equation and the finite-element analysis (FEA). The designed slotted TORUS motor produces sinusoidal back-EMF waveform, maximum power density, and reduced cogging torque. The GA obtained the dimensions of motors with different numbers of slots and the highest possible power density. Electromagnetic field analysis of the candidate motors obtained from GA with various dimensions is subjected through FEA to obtain the motors' characteristics. Based on the GA and FEA results, a candidate motor design is introduced and subjected to FEA for reoptimization and finalization of the motor design. Techniques like modifying winding configuration and permanent magnet skewing are investigated to attain the most sinusoidal back-EMF waveform and reduced cogging torque. FEA and GA simulation results are compared and agreed well to the flux density in various areas of the designed motor at no-load condition. The final designed motor (1 kW, 50 Hz, four poles) is fabricated and tested. Experimental results agree with those of the simulation, both satisfying the desired technical specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ORGANIZATIONAL behavior, SYSTEMS design, PROTOTYPES, and SOCIAL interaction

Abstract: The prototyping approach has been considered to be a more effective systems development methodology than the traditional systems development life cycle approach. Prototyping provides a framework for meaningful social interaction between system users and developers. This research examines the social contextual factors that determine the performance of information system projects and addresses the social perspectives of system development methodologies within the prototyping development framework. This study suggests that the full mediators of the prototyping approach were organizational technology learning and user–IS interaction effectiveness. Organizations should use prototyping in situations where these mediators are important to the development process and are not achieved through other organizational practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

PROTOTYPES and SYSTEMS design

Discusses the role that physical partitioning plays in the system design space and the expansion of virtual prototyping definitions to include the physical implementation attributes of systems. Dependence of low and high manufacturing volume systems on virtual prototyping; Categories of physical partitioning; Hurdles to widespread use of prototyping.

SYSTEMS design and INFORMATION technology

Current demands on prototyping emphasize increasingly complex and dynamic applications that require sophisticated social mechanism and process enablers. However, much of the emphasis placed today in systems development under prototyping focuses on the supporting technology. The imbalance between product and process perspectives under this approach is explored. A view of prototyping effectiveness is presented in terms of non-linear problem solving, adequate technical and procedural solutions, and organizational support. Implications of this view are presented on the selection of prototyping techniques and on project management concerns. Future developments in prototyping practice are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYSTEMS design and INFORMATION resources management

Presents information on an experiment which hypothesized that adding data modeling as a preliminary step to prototyping would give prototyping more structure and make it more efficient. Stages of information system development; Design of the experiment; Results.

SYSTEMS design and PARALLEL programming

Presents a study which examined the ProSet-Linda approach which has been designed for prototyping parallel systems. Several motivations for programming parallel applications; Basic concepts of ProSet-Linda; Implementation of ProSet-Linda.

SYSTEMS design and PROTOTYPES

Investigates the validity of guidelines for selecting prototyping strategies in system design. Categories include clarity of requirements; System mode; Project duration; Project size; Project impact; System performance; User contribution.

COMPUTER programming, COMPUTER software development, SYSTEMS design, SOFTWARE engineering, FUNCTIONAL programming (Computer science), and SOFTWARE architecture

Functional programming has enormous potential for reducing the high cost of software development. Because of the simple mathematical basis of functional programming it is easier to design correct programs in a purely functional style than in a traditional imperative style. We argue here that functional programs combine the clarity required for the formal specification of software designs with the ability to validate the design by execution. As such they are ideal for rapidly prototyping a design as it is developed. We give an example which is larger than those traditionally used to explain functional programming. We use this example to illustrate a method of software design which efficiently and reliably turns an informal description of requirements into an executable formal specification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROTOTYPES, USER interfaces (Computer systems), SYSTEMS design, SPECIFICATIONS, WORK structure, and DESIGN -- Human factors

This article discusses user participation in prototyping. A strategic program of user-centered design was developed to deal with systems for interactive case. The program included a prototyping exercise which not only involved users in providing feedback about the interfaces being developed, but also created structures which provided feedback on the impact of the proposed system on job design and work organization. The complexity of the task and the interdependency among the user roles required a sophisticated technical environment. Therefore, the socio-technical prototype was developed in parallel with the development of technical specification. Three issues relating to the use of prototyping as part of a user-centered design strategy are worth noting. User representatives who are not human factors specialists are able to conduct prototyping activities and gather data, provided they have received some training and have assistance with the development of systematic plans. The prototype provided direct and convincing evidence about the job design and work organization issues for transmission to management.

INFORMATION resources management, RAPID prototyping, USER interfaces (Computer systems), COMPUTER software, TIME study, SYSTEMS design, COMPUTER systems, and INFORMATION technology

Purpose - The primary purpose of this paper is to present an integrated framework for user interface prototyping and evaluation for the development of information systems and to present architecture for evaluating generic applications. Design/methodology/approach - The framework is constructed through combining two distinctive methods of prototyping and evaluation, statechart and goals, operators, methods, and selection rules. Relevant methods and architectures of the integrated framework are presented in unified modeling language when possible. Findings - The importance of the usability of information systems is highlighted in this research. However, it still lacks an integrated framework for information system development and usability evaluation. This paper provides a framework that evaluation method is intertwined with user interface prototyping to shorten the time of development lifecycle. The architecture for evaluating generic applications is also invaluable for motion and time study and the procurement of vender-provided systems. Research limitations/implications - The user base of information systems is diverse and the requirements of these systems change over time. This paper provides a framework that helps managers and engineers smooth and shorten the development phases. For future works, an object-oriented programming framework and a tool for evaluating generic applications will be developed. Originality/value - This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for combining prototyping and evaluation, as well as architecture for the evaluation of generic applications. It shortens the development phases by using formal modeling for user interface construction and evaluation. It also provides means to evaluate candidate systems whose program logics cannot be accessed and modified. It also complements the models used in the framework by extending their practical and academic values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, SYSTEMS design, ROBOTICS, MANUFACTURING processes, INDUSTRIAL engineering, and GEOMETRIC modeling

This paper presents a novel approach for rapid prototyping based on the octree decomposition of 3D geometric models. The proposed method, referred as OcBlox, integrates an octree modeller, an assembly planning system, and a robotic assembly cell into an integrated system that builds approximate prototypes directly from 3D model data. Given an exact 3D model this system generates an octree decomposition of it, which approximates the shape cubic units referred as "Blox". These cuboid units are automatically assembled to obtain an approximate physical prototype. This paper details the algorithms used to generate the octree's assembly sequence and demonstrates the feasibility of the OcBlox approach by describing a single resolution example of a prototype built with this automated system. An analysis of the potential of the approach to decrease the manufacturing time of physical components is detailed. Finally, the potential of OcBlox to support complex overhanging geometry is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]