Vehicle Routing and Production Planning Decision Support Systems: Designing Graphical User Interfaces

Given the inherent complexity of vehicle routing and production planning decision support systems, designing user interfaces for them is challenging and can make a big difference in the usability of these systems. Many heuristic and optimization-oriented systems that have been implemented for this type of problem have failed in part due to a poor graphical user interface. This work proposes an approach that can be applied to improve the design of user interfaces for this type of system and make its implementation easier. The approach is based on tools that were adapted from the FW/SM system for Structured Modeling and commercially available tools, such as Powerbuilder and CPLEX. Two systems that were implemented using this approach, in two different firms, are presented. These systems run on standard PCs under MS Windows, follow the Windows applications design guidelines, and interact with relational database management systems.     

基于CSCW的CAD系统协作支持技术与支持工具的研究

计算机支持的协同工作（CSCW）给CAD技术带来重大发展，但仍然存在许多问题。其中之一是缺乏将协作性能同应用功能有机结合的方法。文中在分析的现有协作支持技术，工具和系统不足的基础上，提出了用协作支持工具软件CoCADToolAgent改造商品化CAD系统来开发CSCD系统的新思路和总体技术路线，给出了通讯支持，协议，一致性维护和并发控制，协同感知，任务和脚色机制的有效的实现方法，作为本方法的一个应用实例，成功地将传统的人机交互式CAD系统AutoCAD转变为网络环境下支持人人交互的CSCD原型系统，作为专用协作支持工具，CoCADToolAgent比NetMeeting之类的通用协作支持工具具有更好的协作性能，该方法可推广到三维CAD系统。     

计算机支持同步协同工作中应用共享机制的研究

应用共享技术是计算机支持协同工作 ( CSCW)系统中支持同步协作的关键技术之一 .本文详细讨论了计算机支持协同工作中应用共享的实现机制 ,分析了混合式应用共享机制的实现方法 .最后 ,给出了在 MS Windows平台上的一个应用共享的具体实例     

基于WEB的协同论证决策支持系统

针对复杂产品研制过程中的总体方案论证,研究新环境、新技术和新条件下支持总体方案论证的决策支持系统。采用先进的计算机支持协同工作技术和广泛应用的WEB技术,构建一种科学合理的复杂产品论证方法。提出了基于WEB的复杂产品协同论证决策支持系统的总体构思,给出了该系统的总体框架、运作流程及核心技术。该系统可以使不同地域不同领域的专家应用异地分布的各种资源在网络环境下对复杂产品的总体方案进行交互协同论证,这对提高论证工作的科学性与合理性,拓展工作的方法和手段有重要的指导作用。     

基于角色的群体感知模型

群体感知理论的研究与应用是计算机支持协同工作的重要研究内容之一.在研究分析了当前群体感知模型研究工作现状的基础上,提出了一种基于角色的群体感知模型.该模型通过分解群组任务,把群组成员扮演的角色细化,对成员的具体活动进行基于角色的集合划分,并根据角色之间的差别程度来确定成员对不同活动的感知强度.最后对该模型的实现机制和应用领域进行了分析,并讨论了下一步研究中需要解决的若干问题.     

基于草图的面向概念设计的协同图表绘制工具

概念设计过程使用了多种图表来表示设计概念以及构建功能结构.将手绘草图作为设计者之间的一种通信语言引入到异地同步协同概念设计过程,提出了基于手绘草图的协同图表绘制多agent 系统,包含草图交互、草图识别、通信、协调等多个agent.讨论了各agent 之间的通信机制以及主要agent 的实现策略,包括草图识别以及语义一致性维护策略.将系统应用到协同流程图绘制领域,运行结果表明,该工具能够改善人机交互模式,促进多用户之间的交流和协作.     

Electronic Meeting Support for Councils

City councils hold meetings several times a week. There is a need for computer support at certain meetings. This paper examines the potential for group support systems for use in city council meetings and shows in what ways they can be helpful in pre-meeting and post-meeting activities. The study is based on 17 computer-supported city council meetings, carried out in Stuttgart, Kornwestheim and other cities as part of the Cuparla Project between 1996 and 1998. Three of these meetings are described in the paper as brief case studies. Following this, all 17 meeting sequences are evaluated and analysed. Guidelines have been developed from the results of the study for the introduction of group support systems in city council meetings.     

A survey of CSCW systems

Over the last decade, computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) has emerged as an identifiable research area that focuses on the role of the computer in group work. CSCW is a generic term which combines the understanding of the nature of group working with the enabling technologies of computer networking, systems support and applications. The paper examines the classes of system which have emerged to support cooperative working. A framework for characterising and describing CSCW systems is presented and four major classes of cooperative system identified. Each of these classes of cooperative system are examined highlighting their general characteristics and applicability to CSCW.     

A generic approach for computer-assistance of complex decision processes

The increasing globalization of markets has raised the competitive pressure. The urge to adapt to rapidly changing conditions has forced many companies to introduce more flexible organizational forms. An adequate information management has to support these changes. One of the key success factors of a corporation will be the capability to perform high quality decision processes. The workbench TUB-MAGIC has been designed and implemented to support the development of distributed, intelligent decision support systems. They use intelligent agents to assist the decisionmaking process in complex situations. The concepts and the realization of TUB-MAGIC were tested by the development of the application MAGNIFICO. It has been implemented to support a cooperative general financial consulting process of a financial institution, e.g. banking corporations.     

计算机支持的协同编著系统中的同步问题

随着Internet的高速发展,计算机支持的协同工作的研究近来备受关注．同步机制是计算机支持的协同工作中的一个核心问题,但目前这方面还缺少有效的描述手段．同步问题在文中称为自动更新问题．该文提出了带子元素群组自动机和带子元素组件自动机的概念,并利用这两个概念给出了同步问题的形式化描述,明确提出并解决了计算机支持的协同编著系统中的自动更新问题原型．     

Using Distributable User Interfaces in CSCL In-Situ Classrooms

Distributable user interfaces enable users to distribute user interface interaction objects (i.e. panels, buttons, input fields, checkboxes, etc.) across different displays using a set of distribution primitives to manipulate them in real time. This work presents how this kind of user interfaces facilitates the computer supported collaborative learning in modern classrooms. These classrooms provide teachers and students with display ecosystems consisting of stationary displays, such as smart projectors and smart TVs as well as mobile displays owned by teachers and students, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The distribution of user interface interaction objects enables teachers to modify the user interface interaction objects that are available to students in real time to control and promote the collaboration and participation among them during learning activities. We propose the development of this type of applications using an extension of the CAMELEON reference framework that supports the definition of UI distribution models. The Essay exercise is presented as a case of study where teachers control the collaboration among students by distributing user interface interaction objects.     

计算机支持的协同工作系统的时序逻辑模型

为了使群体能够协同完成任务,CSCW(computer supported cooperative work)系统不仅要解决各种分布性、处理应用领域的特殊性,而且要提供面向用户的协作支持,从而使其行为异常复杂.然而对系统行为进行形式化的描述是构造软件系统的必经阶段.为了清晰地描述CSCW系统的行为,使其特定性质的验证成为可能,本文在时序逻辑的基础上,建立了CSCW系统行为的抽象描述模型.在此模型中,CSCW系统由分布运行实体和信息对象组成,系统的主要行为表现为用时序逻辑语言XYZ/E描述的实体间的交互.此模型可较好地对系统的分析和构造进行指导.     

CSCW系统中的并发控制机制的研究

并发控制是CSCW系统的关键技术之一,旨在解决由于多用户同时操作可能产生的冲突,它与传统分布式系统的并发控制存在很大的差别。该文首先讨论了CSCW系统的并发控制机制的特点和功能需求,接着简要介绍了CSCW系统中各种并发控制方法,评述了其优缺点,着重研究了各种并发控制方法对用户接口的影响。最后,从设计实际CSCW系统的角度出发,讨论了选择和设计合适的并发控制算法应重点考虑的要素。     

计算机辅助协同工作

一、什么是计算机辅助协同工作?随着高性能计算机及其网络的广泛应用,计算机系统正由传统的问题求解,执行一定的计算,朝着帮助用户进行交互并支持协同工作的方向发展。分工协作是一种完善     

Rationality in Information Systems Support to Decision Making

Management information systems serve business organizations by providing information for decision making. Various types of systems serve different types of decision contexts. The philosophic basis of information system support is discussed. The rational (or normative) philosophy is widely used, and appears in business theory in the form of agency theory and transaction cost analysis. While this approach has been valuable in some contexts, there are other contexts where the rational approach has limited in utility for real business decision making. Decision makers need to consider subjective factors to enable them to cope with the high levels of uncertainty, incomplete understanding, and imperfect data typical of dynamic open systems. There are alternative philosophies upon which to base decision-making that are appropriate for specific decision contexts. Churchman identified empirical, multi-perspective frameworks, dialectic, and cause-and-effect inquiring systems as alternatives to the rational (normative) system. A number of information system tools, such as decision support systems, expert systems, and group support systems can be supported by models based on philosophies other than rational models. A more empirically based philosophy, with decision-makers balancing hypothesis generation and observations of performance, is often more appropriate. The relationship between Churchman's inquiring systems and information system types are discussed.     

Evolution in Groups: A Genetic Algorithm Approach to Group Decision Support Systems

Certain tasks undertaken by groups using Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) can be viewed as search problems. These tasks involve arriving at a solution or decision where the problem is complex enough to warrant the use of computerized decision support tools. For these types of GDSS tasks, we propose to model the information exchange and convergence toward a solution by the group as a simple genetic algorithm. The simple genetic algorithm is a generalized search technique that is based on the principles of evolution and natural selection. Simply put, the best points in the current population are more likely to be selected and combined through genetic operators to determine new points. We propose that groups using GDSS to address certain tasks behave like a simple genetic algorithm in the manner in which possible solutions are generated, enhanced and altered in attempting to reach a decision or consensus.     

Information Systems that Really Support Decision-Making

Decision makers are expected to make decisions which have a positive effect on the future of their enterprises. We expect that intelligent information systems support their activities. Today, databases and web-based resources, accessed through effective communications, make information about the past rapidly available. To project the future the decision makers either have to use intuition or employ tool for prediction, and initialize such tools with information obtained from an information system to such tools. An effective information system should integrate forecasting the future, and because there choices have been made, such a system must also support the comparative assessment of the effects of alternate decisions. The complexity of an information system handling the past, and multiple futures will be great, and must be modularized with effective interfaces. We recommend the use of an SQL-like interface language to access existing tools to assess the future, as spreadsheets and simulations. Making results of simulations accessible as another contribution to integrated information systems has the potential of greatly augmenting their effectiveness and really support decision-making.     

Cova: A programming language for cooperative applications

This paper discusses Cova, a novel programming language designed to develop integra-tive cooperative applications and the issues related to the design and implementation of its runtime system.