Evolutionary prototyping and system development

In our iterative design practise we go through a prototyping cycle which starts with our information flow analysis, proceeds to user needs assessment and incorporates user centered design concepts. Prototypes are then made and tested with users. You can read more about these ideas in our papers.

We design our own applications using a modeling environment we have developed called n-dim. n-dim is a multi-user information modeling environment which allows for both ad-hoc construction of graphical models and the more formal definition of models and applications surrounding them.

As part of our research we have built some prototype support systems. So far we have designed and produced:

  • IWEB - an issue based discussion system (n-dim environment application)
  • BUGZ - bug tracking for software development (n-dim environment application)
  • LIRÉ - Living Information Repository (web based application)
  • SATR - Simulation and Analysis Tools Repository (web based application)
  • The Process History Machine - an unobtrusive process capturing device (Java application)
  • Flowsheet application - computer based support system for chemical engineers using flowsheets to design chemical processes
 
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