Computer Mediated Collaborative Design Environments

The intellectual contribution of this book lies within the area of computer supported collaborative work (CSCW), focussing on computer supported collaborative design (CSCD). Research into CSCD seeks to understand how professional designers and organization interact with one another, aiming to integrate this understanding with the development of computer based tools to support real world settings. Much of the current technology developed to support the work of professional designers have been developed to aid individuals working alone, with tools such as computer aided drafting (CAD), scheduling, and database software. Literature and field studies involving professional designers were used as methods of qualitative data collection for the needs of this research, establishing the foundations for the implementation of a prototype collaborative design environment. The main focus of the prototype is to assist professional product designers when in remote collaboration during the early stages of the design process.