Thomas Rodden

Q-PIT: a populated information terrain

This paper describes a system called Q-PIT. It is a prototype example of a class of systems we define as populated information terrains. Within the scope of our work, we examine issues from multi-user virtual reality, data visualization and the use of databases to support cooperative work. We describe the use of Q-PIT as an information terrain, show how such a terrain can be generated, explored and manipulated, before considering the issues of populating such a terrain with more than one user.

Interacting with an active, integrated environment

Software engineering environments are intended to provide a cohesive and integrated set of tools to support the process of software engineering with much current research into environment design focussed on maximising the degree to which these tools can be integrated. This paper describes the architecture of a prototype environment which attempts to achieve a high degree of integration using techniques drawn from artificial intelligence, office automation and object-oriented programming. This environment is implemented as a federation of intelligent, co-operating agents which communicate, with each other and with users, by message passing. This paper is particularly concerned with user interface integration including the mechanisms employed to permit inter-agent and agent-user communications.

Graphical and iconic programming languages for distributed process control: an object oriented approach

Distributed process control has gained in impetus over recent years as an alternative to central control systems. The object-oriented paradigm lends itself well to the description of such distributed systems. The Oscar model of active objects embodies this paradigm, and a support environment for the design and implementation of process control systems built on this model is outlined. A graphical system description language based on an extended GRAFCET notation is described. This language is used to specify the interobject messaging and action required for a particular control task. The parsing of the diagram provides the code for controlling a system. A higher-level iconic approach to the description of control strategies is also described. By restricting themselves to the domain of process control, the authors have been able to make substantial progress in the provision of an integrated support environment. The environment incorporates the notions of visual programming techniques and combines iconic and object-oriented paradigms to produce a consistent interface metaphor.<<ETX>>

Developing a Tool to Support Collaborative Dialogues and Graphical Representation of Ideas

We describe the development of the Designers’ NotePad; a tool to support the rapid creation and refinement of ideas. The tool supports collaborative dialogues with features that enable idea fragments to be rapidly entered and revised. The core features are entities and links. Users are able to gradually add more structure while still keeping the freedom to rapidly refine and without being required to make premature commitments about classification. An iterative design approach was used involving frequent studies of the tool in use. Particular attention is given to the impact of the interface on the usability and effectiveness of the system.

Distributed systems management as a group activity

It is important to consider systems management as part of a whole organizational management strategy, and, as such, to be aware of the impact of people on management. Within a flexible management framework we bring people within the terms of reference associated with systems management.<<ETX>>

The use of a computational tool to support the refinement of ideas

Abstract We describe the Designers Notepad and observations of its use. This is a tool developed to support the very early stages of software design, which involve brainstorming, refinement of ideas and the consideration and selection between alternative design options. In essence, the tool permits the users to construct and structure entities and links between them. By providing the ability to create substructures, to use colour and shape and to add textual annotations of varying type and structure to entities, and to very easily revise and edit structures, it is possible to construct sophisticated designs with remarkable ease. Considerable effort has been put into enhancing both the usability and generality of the tool by focussing on HCI issues. It has been developed using rapid prototyping and incremental change based around continuous studies of the prototypes in use in authentic tasks (real-world tasks that the users have regardless of whether they use the system or not). As a result the tool can be used to support many different kinds of activity involving the structuring, ordering and interlinking of concepts. Thus it can have substantial general educational benefits across a variety of subject domains. A preliminary study of the use of the tool by second year computing undergraduates and students of other disciplines has been undertaken. We report the initial findings of this study and their implications for future development of this and related learning-support tools.

Co-operation and communication within an active IPSE

Most currently available Integrated Project Support Environments achieve integration of project components through the use of a cohesive set of tools layered on top of a database management system. In addition to the integration of tools and data, future IPSEs will be required to support integration of the various activities within a project. The ISM project is developing an architecture for a prototype IPSE which supports activity integration. The IPSE is implemented as a federation of intelligent, co-operating agents which communicate with each other and with IPSE users by message passing. This paper is particularly concerned with the mechanisms employed to permit inter-agent and agent-user communications, both to initiate actions within the IPSE and to enable the direct manipulation of the IPSE object store.