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Design Division

An Overview

Introduction:

Software used by the academic engineering community has a number of characteristics: the code tends to be large and complex; it is produced from a variety of sources (in-house developments, from academic institutions and from commercial organisations); and a major focus is upon the graphical/pictorial presentation of output. The position is further complicated by a diversity of hardware platforms together with a variety of software tools and techniques from different engineering disciplines. Effective provision of software for working engineers has to operate within a number of contexts: recasting existing routines and integrating them into more manageable systems; taking advantage of new developments in technology; and developing and exploring new ways of interacting with programs and with data. These are not static targets: development and its associated research and assessment has to be continuous to be able to offer state-of-the-art (i.e. best current practice) products to the engineering community.

An area of major interest is facilities for emerging areas such as co-operative design.

The overall aim is to let the engineer concentrate upon the engineering: that is to free the working engineer from the necessity of becoming a programmer.

Background

Design Division (DD) has a number of influences on its role. There is a strong engineering background associated with CAD, CAE and CIM. This has given an interest in areas such as control engineering, energy systems for buildings, electromagnetics, engineering databases and their associated problems. Another influence arose from a combination of the Science and Engineering Council (SERC) Common Base Programme together with the UK Alvey initiative. Help in the co-ordination and support of the MMI Directorate was undertaken together with technical work on user interface design support for high-power single-user systems. Overall the direct manipulation paradigm was exploited together with a consistent style of user interface to provide tools with a natural feel. Object-oriented programming techniques are emerging as a major interest for the DD. These UK-funded activities have been complemented by funding from various European Community programmes (notably ESPRIT).

Work of DD

DD consists of three Groups. The major role and objectives of each Group are:

Applications Integration Group - the development of data-base facilities appropriate to the engineer, to provide interfaces between these databases and the application, and to provide flexible support mechanisms for the transfer of information between phases of the design process.

Systems Interface Group - the provision of an appropriate supporting structure for the application, the engineering programmer and the end-user. This requires exploration of the available tools and their development, integration and customization for an engineering environment. With current systems it is not possible to provide a complete environment with all the above features. A two-pronged attack is being used:

User Interface Group - most engineering design will in the future be carried out using high-powered single-user workstations. It must be possible to prototype such environments and assess their applicability to the anticipated user. There is thus a need to provide facilities for the design and implementation of user interfaces (User Interface Management Systems (UIMS) and associated tools), appropriate interactive graphics systems (such as PHIGS), as well as techniques to assist both with the design of and the assessment of the effectiveness of such systems (Human Factors).

The DD's current activities include:

New Techniques (R & D)

Development work

Evaluation and Assessment

Training and Awareness

Future Plans

DD's background coupled with the range of activities outlined above and an active R&D environment leaves us well placed to assist with the current Engineering Applications Support Environment (EASE) programme of the SERC's Computing Facilities Committee.

Applications Integration Group

Introduction

In the past, computer programs used in engineering design have been developed in isolation from each other. The programs in use today have different styles of user interface, and it is often difficult to exchange data between them. It is possible to interface two programs by writing software which obtains information from one program and writes it to the other; there are many such interfaces in existence, but this manner of working is unsatisfactory for exchanging data generally between Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs, or between CAD and analysis programs.

The growing interest in Computer Integrated Manufacture (CIM) is resulting in a need to exchange engineering models between computers in different departments of an organisation and between different organisations. Two types of model are chiefly of interest. definition and analysis. The product definition model is a complete description of a component or assembly, containing all information necessary for manufacturing purposes. The product analysis model is intended to provide information for performance analysis by finite element and similar programs; it is this model which is of most interest to the Applications Integration Group (AIG), some of whose members have been involved in finite element work for many years.

The first attempt to develop an exchange format which would be independent of the programs using it was the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) which appeared in 1980. Apart from problems which lead to ambiguities, there are requirements which IGES does not meet, such as analysis control.

Background

An Esprit project known as "CAD Interfaces" was begun in 1984, with the aim of developing a neutral file format for exchanging CAD models and analysis models. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) has been closely involved in this project.

At about the same time, the USA developers of IGES began work on a new standard, Product Data Exchange Specification (PDES); shortly afterwards the International Standards Organisation (ISO) became interested, and it was decided to work in collaboration with PDES to produce a new standard called STandard for Exchange of Product data (STEP). Representatives from RAL attend meetings of the ISO STEP committees, and the British Standards Institution Committee which is coordinating this work in the United Kingdom.

Both CAD Interfaces and STEP rely on formal methods for data modelling. STEP has adopted two languages for data modelling purposes, IDEF1X and EXPRESS, and these are now being used by AIG. Although CAD Interfaces was directed primarily towards the development of neutral file specifications, STEP is also concerned with the use of databases for storing engineering models.

Based on this work, it is now possible to begin to integrate engineering design programs into a common environment.

The Work of AIG

The Group is divided into two sections: Data Exchange Section and Databases Section.

Data Exchange Section

The basis of interfacing is the "physical file", which contains data in a format which is independent of any of the programs used during the design process. Such a file must be written by one program and read by another. To produce the interfacing software 'by hand' would be a time consuming and error prone task; much effort has therefore being devoted to the 'automatic' production of interfaces by methods analogous to those used for developing new compilers for standard languages such as C, Fortran and Pascal. Specifying syntax in a formal language such as BNF (Backus Naur Form) makes possible the use of 'compiler-compiler' programs to produce software for reading neutral files. We are using the data modelling languages IDEF1X and EXPRESS for the definition of semantics for this software. Some current activities are:

Databases Section

Traditionally, Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) programs have had their own internal databases. Modem database systems are usually based on relational techniques. Such methods have been developed largely with commercial uses in mind such as banking and insurance; the problems associated with storing and retrieving engineering data such as product models are new.

Current Activities

Some current activities are

Automotive Design Project

The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) is funding a three year initiative in order to stimulate the development and use of computer techniques in the automotive industry. The Automotive Design Project (ADP) is centred at the University of Birmingham, with involvement by commercial automotive companies. The AIG assists in the work of this project, which has many data exchange and database needs.

User Interface Group

Introduction

User Interface Group's objectives are threefold: first, to provide high-level software user support systems (often called User Interface Management Systems or UIMS) to aid the construction of effective interfaces to engineering applications software; secondly, to support engineering work using interactive graphics through the provision of suitable tools such as the Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS); and thirdly, to develop guidelines and evaluation techniques for human factors aspects of the user interface. These three groups of objectives are closely linked in providing an effective high-level interface for engineers using interactive systems.

The expected end-users of much of the Group's work are applications programmers working in the various engineering disciplines. Support tools such as UIMS assist in the development and maintenance of application program interfaces (usually in a direct manipulation environment). It is also necessary to supply information derived from human factors work to engineers in a usable and appropriate format.

The Group's aim is to support the engineering programmer in the design of high quality user interfaces to support the professional (but not necessarily the computing professional) of the future. It is expected that the delivery vehicle will typically be a single-user workstation, such as a SUN, running under the UNIX operating system.

A range of support, research and development activities are undertaken to achieve this aim.

Support activities are focused under the training and awareness activities of the Engineering Applications Support Environment (EASE) Programme (see EASE Handout), in particular related to the evaluation of UIMS products and of innovative input/output devices. Interactive engineering programs require rapid manipulation of complex hierarchical objects: the Group is thus also responsible for the provision of the Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS). This graphics interest provides a link with a number of other groups in the Informatics Department.

Research activities are directed at the evaluation aspects of the Graphical Extensibility work being carried out by Systems Interface Group and human factors consultancy work for various projects associated with other groups. An evaluation laboratory, with appropriate video and computing equipment, has been set up to support these activities.

Current development activities include: the production of additional programmer support tools not provided by existing (commercial) DIMS; the investigation of effective ways of providing human factors guidelines support for software engineers; and the provision of training supportware originally produced for a project under the European Community Programme in Education and Training for Technology (COMETT). This latter work will feed directly into training activities of the EASE Programme.

Background

Like most of the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) work in Informatics, many of these strands of work have their origins in the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) Common Base Programme (CBP) and UK Alvey Initiative work at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), together with an active and diversely funded portfolio of research projects. However the expansion of human factors work is a relatively new departure for RAL. This human factors activity will not only be of assistance to the external EASE Community but should also assist with the in-house evaluation and assessment activities of Distributed Computing Services Division.

The Group is divided into three sections: Human Factors Section, Interactive Graphics (PHIGS) Section and User Interface Support Tools (UIMS) Section. Current activities include:

Human Factors Section

Interactive Graphics (PHIGS) Section

User Interface Support Tools (UIMS) Section

Other activities

Future Work

It is expected that the work of the Group will continue broadly along present lines, but with increased emphasis upon the following activities (both in collaboration with Systems Interface Group):

Additionally, it is expected that bids will be made with other Groups in the Informatics Department and outside RAL for funding under various grant and initiative opportunities.

Dataglove

Dataglove
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The DataGlove is a light-weight glove-shaped input device. It senses relative hand movement, position and orientation, in real time. It converts this information into a computer-readable form. The glove monitors flexion and extension of the fingers and the position and orientation of the hand.

Systems Interface Group

Introduction

The role of Systems Interface Group (SysIG) is to provide programming tools, techniques and environments for the engineering community. The tools and techniques are directed at support for highly interactive user interface design; the environments provided are aimed at providing productive, integrated software for engineering applications development.

Users of the software are of two types - engineering applications programmers, and end-users. The vehicles used are powerful single-user workstations using the UNIX operating system. These systems provide a quality user interface by means of their high definition screens and a pointing input device (the mouse). This combination allows the display to be divided into logically separate (possibly overlapping) areas known as windows, under the overall control of the window manager. The windows can be manipulated in various ways, similar to the way papers can be manipulated on a desk (sorting, overlapping etc), with the additional feature that they can be re-sized as well as created and destroyed. An example of a screen using windowing software is shown overleaf; most of the software seen was written by members of the group.

The activities undertaken cover a range of support and R&D activities. The funding sources are varied, including Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), the Engineering Applications Support Environment (EASE) Programme, and R&D funds from other SERC committees and from the European Commission's ESPRIT and COMETT programmes. Some support activities are part of the EASE Awareness programme, which includes the provision of a wide range of seminars, workshops etc on Information Technology (IT) topics, and assessment of new software, devices, and techniques. Additionally, support for the ECSTASY control engineering software environment for the Environment Committee community is provided. The development activities are wide-ranging, including window system performance improvements and user interface toolkits. More research-oriented projects include the Energy Kernel System (EKS), which uses object-oriented database techniques to provide an advanced environment for applications development for systems in the Building Design area. Other research projects undertaken by the SysIG include one on extensibility techniques within a highly interactive environment, and an advanced interaction software framework for a powerful 3D graphics workstation.

Working conditions within SysIG are excellent; each member has a modem, networked workstation for their own use and access is also available to a number of very powerful systems (such as Stellar, Ardent etc) as part of assessments undertaken for the EASE Programme.

Background

Highly interactive user interface work at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) began in the early 1980's, particularly with the spy screen editor development. This is a popular, highly interactive aid which exploits the graphical features of workstations such as the SUN. A widely-used interaction toolkit, ww, has also been produced. This toolkit, together with spy and some additional tools, is distributed to and used on a number of SERC-funded projects via the normal EASE distribution mechanisms. Support for the UK Alvey initiative has also been undertaken, as well as technical work.

For the Alvey Conference Exhibition In 1987, a demonstration was arranged which showed how ww could be exploited in a distributed environment - that of a "remote" researcher co-operating with a "local" technician over the design of a (laser) experiment. In the process, as well as providing a state-of-the-art user interface to the design program, two utilities were provided: musk which enables a common "sketch-pad" to be read/writable by any number of participants, and watchme a program which enables one workstation to view all or part of the screen of another in real-time.

A SERC research project on Intelligent Front End techniques, applied to energy flows in building design, has recently been completed.

The Work of SysIG

Current work in the three sections within SysIG described below.

Window Management Section

Investigation of window-management systems toolkits (with a major focus upon X-11). This includes:

Novel Interfaces Section

Development of innovative interfaces, principally:

Software Environments Section

Work in application support environments such as:

Other Activities

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