Consideration and modeling of use processes in computer-aided conceptueal design

Abstract

If conceptual modeling and simulation of consumer durables could include consideration of use processes, designers could more successfully anticipate the interaction ofproducts with users in a use environment. This is the basic idea behind our research into computer-aided modeling and forecasting product-use processes. This survey investigates the current state ofthe art, that forms the basis for companies or researchers developing systems in this area. It includes overviews of(a) definitions (b) relevant achievements in this field, and (c) research in related areas, such as ergonomics, human-computer interaction and machine design. In recent years, there has been no significant development ofnovel, dedicated use-process models. Current models represent discrete actions, observed from use of existing products or prescribed by the designer. Simulation techniques are applied to deal with continuous changes, predicting the behavior ofthe product and its environment, but typically not the user. Yet, promising techniques for simulating humans are emerging, for instance in computer-graphics animation. New integrated techniques for simulation open the way to quantitative and more accurate predictions of the use process, but they cannot handle the multiplicity of possible use processes resulting from different users in different environments. In this respect, the development of use-process models with increased knowledge content andfacilitiesfor integration with simulations can give a solution.