The human guidance of automated design

ABSTRACT

This 5-minute video describes the potential of automated design (optimisation) and identifies associated difficulties which can be overcome by an interface allowing the designer to guide the automated design process. Within the context of electronic circuit design the video then shows a system, called CoCo, for the c&barbelow;ontrol and o&barbelow;bservation of c&barbelow;ircuit o&barbelow;ptimisation. Illustrations focus on graphical interfaces used for (a) describing the circuit, (b) describing the required performance and (c) the human guidance of the automated design of that circuit. Jargon has been suppressed so that workers in related fields can see the implications of the idea.

REFERENCES

• 1: Colgan, L., Rankin, P.R. and Spence, R. Steering Automated Design, in Artificial Intelligence in Design, Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann, (1991), pp.211-230.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Interaction styles (e.g., commands, menus, forms, direct manipulation)

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.7 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

  J. Computer Applications
  J.6 COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING
      Subjects: Computer-aided design (CAD)

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Human Factors