IT Area Research Articles

Rapid prototyping—the Swedish industry experience

AbstractThe growing emphasis on timeliness as a competitive weapon has forced companies around the world to search for time‐slacks and other possibilities to reduce lead times in the process of product refinement. In this respect, an especially interesting bottleneck is the development and manufacturing of prototypes. Traditional prototype methods, mostly performed by craftsmen, are known to be both costly and time‐consuming. However, the development within the IT area has lately made it possible to speed up and compress this particular process step. Depending on the purpose of the prototype, a new technology called Rapid Prototyping can be used in many situations, reducing lead times in the development of prototypes from weeks and months down to hours, hence affecting the overall lead time. However, adopting this new technology also means considerably new working requirements as well as new options for most actors involved in the product development process, including external participants. Especially cross‐functional and cross‐organizational collaboration is strongly promoted by this technology, improving working relationships. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

MAX: advanced network management capabilities in a standard MAN system

This paper aims to provide an overview on the characteristics of the MAX system, focusing on aspects concerning network management. MAX is a MAN system conceived in the framework of the ESPRIT Programme, promoted by the Commission of European Communities to support European R&D activities in the IT area. MAX implements the solutions defined by the European Telecommunication Standard Institute, relevant standards on MANs, and is able to provide integration of services and very high speeds. The management capabilities envisaged for MAX are based on the ETSI MAN management documents, and are compliant with the CCITT TMN Reference Model. An object-oriented approach has been followed within MAX to develop the management software, ensuring modularity and portability. Different management areas have been covered including aspects related to Customer Network Management, i.e. the possibility for customers to interact with the MAN management system.

Computer workshops for girls

The Department of Electronics and Computer Science here at Southampton University includes about 20 lecturers who specialise in Computer Science. Five of these lecturers are women. Computer Science is a challenging subject, as both hardware and software technologies are continually evolving. In industry, there is a seemingly greater need for graduates thanthe universities and polytechnics can ever supply, even at times of recession. It is very clear that skills beyond pure expertise with algorithms and programming are required for careers in Information Technology; there is a need to communicate, document and work in groups, as well as be proficient at some of the more abstract areas of the subject. Thereis good reason to believe that young women as well as young men should be attracted to careers in the IT area, yet the number of women applying for degrees in Computer Science over the whole of the UK decreased astonishingly between five andsixyears ago and has never recovered.