Citation

Hinde CJ, Fletcher GP. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1995; 16(4-6): 383-389.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of incorporating the human and computerised elements of a design team into a single co-operating system, moving away from the model of a computer system supporting a single user towards being part of a heterarchy of agents. This augments classic CSCW where the computer is a facilitator to that where the computerised elements are active participants.Within that collection of agents the humans are not only using the computers to solve their own problems but are deployed to satisfy the computers requirements; the whole system being designed to satisfy the customers' requirements. In a design and production environment the primary user is the problem which interfaces to the agents who combine to deliver a solution.Relevance to industryRather than take a computer- or user-centred viewpoint, we argue for a holist cybernetic approach integrating both with the focus on the problem rather than any particular component. Where systems are largely user-driven, such as word processing, then the problem will naturally lean towards a user-centred design. In contrast the solution of large sets of differential equations requires little user involvement and so the focus leans naturally towards the computational aspects. Most systems lie between these extremes. Concurrent engineering is concerned with integrating many aspects of design and manufacture and so requires such a holistic approach to succeed.