A new category of tools known as CAI (computer-aided innovation) is an emerging domain in the array of computer-aided technologies. CAI has been growing as a response to greater industry demands for reliability in new products. Some initial CAI ideas and concepts focused on assisting product designers in the early stage of the design process, but now a more comprehensive vision conceives CAI systems as beginning at the fuzzy front end of perceiving business opportunities and customer demands, then continuing during the creative stage in developing inventions and, further on, providing help up to the point of turning inventions into successful innovations in the marketplace. CAI methods and tools are partially inspired by Innovation Theories, such as TRIZ, QFD (Quality Function Development), Axiomatic Design, Synectics, General Theory of Innovation, Mind Mapping, Brain Storming, Lateral Thinking, and Kansei Engineering, among others. The goal of these new CAI tools under development is to assist innovators, inventors, designers, process developers and managers in their creative performance, with the expectation of changes in paradigms through the use of this new category of software tools. CAI, therefore, stands out as a departure from the usual trends. The latest approaches are presented and analyzed to derive conclusions regarding the present status and the future of these emerging tools.
Since 2004 the Computer Aided Innovation (CAI) working group of IFIP has gathered academic scholars, industrial researchers and specialists interested in sharing their know-how on theoretical and practical aspects related to the development of computer-aided systems supporting the innovation process.
The conference focus will be Intelligent Innovation in Product Creation. CAI systems need to support the entire innovation process, beginning at the fuzzy front end of perceiving business opportunities and customer demands, then continuing during the conceptual stage and, further on, providing help up to the point of turning concepts into successful innovations in the marketplace.
Organized with the aim of offering to WG5.4 members an opportunity to meet, present your research, network with another community. Computer-Aided Innovation (CAI) is a young domain in the array of CAx technologies. The goal of CAI is to support engineers and enterprises throughout the complete innovation process. Although some existing ideas and concepts of CAI focus on assisting product designers in their creative stage, a more comprehensive vision conceives CAI systems beginning at the creative stage of perceiving business opportunities and customer demands, then helping in developing inventions and, further on, providing help up to the point of turning inventions into successful innovations in the market. Following the track of the previous IFIP WG5.4 working conferences, this workshop aims to continue the tradition of strongly linking academic and industry members.
