1	Using Advanced Design Support Systems in Virtual Environments Dr Ahmed Kovačević City University London
2	Agenda Introduction - Design Process as a part of business activity and Product development Concurrent and Collaborative Design Design in Virtual Environments EGPR Academic Virtual Enterprise Tools and methods for design communication in VE
3	Introduction: Design is the part of company business
4	Introduction: Concurrent Design is a part of a Concurrent Product Development
5	Concurrent Product Development
6	Product Development Process
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10	EGPR Virtual Enterprise
11	Means of Communication Communication system-system Heterogeneous database
12	Direct collaboration Users work on a design task simultaneously: Brainstorming; Conceptualisation; Evaluation; Virtual Reality … VIDEOCONFERENCING & NET Meeting are direct collaboration tools Direct CAD collaboration is rare but possible and coming …
13	Indirect collaboration
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15	Data Exchange Protocols Initial Graphics Exchange Specification Standard initiated by GE and Boeing in 1979. Allows exchange of both geometric and non-geometric information. Good for 2D and 3D wireframe and surface models
16	Data Exchange Protocols DXF Data eXchange Format is not a published standard for 2D models It is a specification developed by Autodesk Inc. to support links with their "AutoCAD" software. DXF is a simple and relatively limited format. DXF has been implemented in many CAD systems A means of exchanging engineering drawings.
17	Data Exchange Protocols STEP The main goal of the standard is to provide a neutral format for product data exchange over the entire life cycle of a product. STEP is a proactive effort developed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO. The focus is on developing a standard that caters for various user groups.
18	Conclusions Communication is important issue in Collaborative VE for Concurrent D&DP Both, Direct and Indirect Design Communication should be applied Common modern data exchange protocol should be used Capabilities of students from different universities should be recognised and extensively used