Andreea Danielescu

Problem Map: An Ontological Framework for a Computational Study of Problem Formulation in Engineering Design

Studies of design cognition often face two challenges. One is a lack of formal cognitive models of design processes that have the appropriate granularity: fine enough to distinguish differences among individuals and coarse enough to detect patterns of similar actions. The other is the inadequacies in automating the recourse-intensive analyses of data collected from large samples of designers. To overcome these barriers, we have developed the problem map (P-maps) ontological framework. It can be used to explain design thinking through changes in state models that are represented in terms of requirements, functions, artifacts, behaviors, and issues. The different ways these entities can be combined, in addition to disjunctive relations and hierarchies, support detailed modeling and analysis of design problem formulation. A node‐link representation of P-maps enables one to visualize how a designer formulates a problem or to compare how different designers formulate the same problem. Descriptive statistics and time series of entities provide more detailed comparisons. Answer set programming (ASP), a predicate logic formalism, is used to formalize and trace strategies that designers adopt. Data mining techniques (association rule and sequence mining) are used to search for patterns among large number of designers. Potential uses of P-maps are computer-assisted collection of large data sets for design research, development of a test for the problem formulation skill, and a tutoring system. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4030076]

The Structure of Creative Design: What Problem Maps Can Tell Us About Problem Formulation and Creative Designers

Problem formulation is an important part of the design process that has been largely underexplored. Similarly, the relationship between how designers formulate problems and creative outcome is not well understood. To shed light on what the process of problem formulation can tell us about creativity in design, we use the problem map model ‐ a flexible, domainindependent ontology for modeling the design formulation process ‐ to analyze protocols from eight expert designers. In this paper, we discuss the effectiveness of using problem maps for coding design protocols and what the problem map model can tell us about the protocols of designers. In this exploratory study, we use the problem map model to code and analyze the problem formulation stage of the design process.

Beyond Function-Behavior-Structure

Our research is investigating the relationship between design problem formulation and creative outcome. Our research is investigating the relationship between design problem formulation and creative outcome. Towards that goal we have conducted experiments with designers engaged in problem formulation. In order to analyze such empirical data, a formal representation is needed. One popular model is Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) and its several variants. Our problem map (P-map) model shares many features with FBS but also has important differences. We introduce a hierarchical representation not only in each of the F, B, S domains but in additional domains (requirements and issues). We also identify generic inter and intra-domain relationships between these entities, leading to a more expressive and flexible model that is domain independent and well suited for representing problem formulations of designers with different expertise levels and creativity. We have used the model for coding protocol data in a formal predicate logic language (Answer Set Prolog).

Gesture-based interaction design: communication and cognition

This workshop explores and identifies the cognitive issues fundamental to the design of gestural interactive systems. To achieve this, a dialogue will be facilitated among researchers in the cognitive science of gesture and gestural interaction within the HCI community. During the workshop we will discuss the different methodologies and results within the study of gestural interaction, with a focus on how the use of bodily movement in an interface affects the cognition of users, groups, communities and societies. We invite participants from cognitive science, HCI, user experience design, educational technology and interactive installation art to present their work on gestural interfaces and discuss how that work has been observed to impact user perceptual or cognitive faculties. The workshops material outcomes include a book on gestural interaction and cognition, while the research outcomes include methodologies, heuristics, design principles and hypotheses for the further design and investigation of gestural and tangible technologies.

Building with a memory: responsive color interventions

Building with a Memory is a subtle responsive intervention that aims to provide cohesion and community awareness through the use of light and color. The installation delivers thought-provoking information by capturing, analyzing and rendering real-time and archived human activity in a workplace setting. The installation senses movement in the space through an IR camera and computer vision techniques. Two custom lighting fixtures and a video monitor render the aggregated movements. The visually simple aesthetic of the piece aims to balance active engagement and passive contribution, providing a rewarding experience for both occasional passersby and regular users of the space. This paper describes the motivations and contributions of the installation, together with insights gained from an informal evaluation and directions for future explorations.

Constructing an Embodied Interaction for Concept Mapping

Creating learning experiences that are meaningful and motivational is crucial in learning. Research demonstrates that effectively organizing ideas via concept maps allows students to view prior knowledge with new perspectives. Recently, embodied computation has emerged as an effective means of meeting educational objectives due to its intuitive, gesture-based control and to its promotion of associating knowledge with physical events. Unfortunately, a majority of systems tailored for such interaction are expensive prototypes. However, the release of depth cameras has brought embodied interaction into the commercial realm, allowing users’ bodies to “become” controllers. This research presents a novel, low cost system that provides embodied interaction with a computer and depth camera, through which learners can create concept maps with gestures. Current work involves defining intuitive gestural controls. Future work will involve evaluating the system for use in a classroom with the aim to create opportunities to easily incorporate embodiment into collaborative learning.

Abstract rendering of human activity in a dynamic distributed learning environment

Contemporary distributed enterprises present challenges in terms of demonstrating community activity awareness and coherence across individuals and teams in collaborating networks. Building with a Memory is an experiential media system that captures and represents human activity in a distributed workplace over time. The system senses and analyzes movement in two workspaces in a mixed-use building with the results rendered in an informative ambient display in the building entryway. We describe the design and development of the system, together with insights from two studies of the installation and promising future directions.