Designing is one of the most significant of human acts. Surprisingly, given that designing has been occurring for many millenia, our understanding of the processes of designing is remarkably limited. Recently, design methods have been formalised not as humano-centred processes but as processes capable of computer implementation with the goal of augmenting human designers. This volume contains contributions which cover design methods based on evolutionary systems, generative processes, evaluation methods and analysis methods. It presents the state of the art in formal design methods for computer aided design.

The development of computational models of design founded on the artificial intelligenceparadigm has provided an impetus for muchofcurrentdesign research. As artificial intelligence has matured and developed new approaches so the impact ofthese new approaches on design research has been felt. This can be seen in the wayconcepts from cognitive science has found theirway into artificial intelligence and hence into design research. And, also in the way in which agent-based systems arebeingincorporated into design systems. In design research there is an increasing blurring between notions drawn from artificial intelligence and those drawn from cognitive science. Whereas a number of years ago the focus was largely on applying artificial intelligence to designing as an activity, thus treating designing as a form ofproblem solving, today we are seeing a much wider variety ofconceptions of the role of artificial intelligence in helping to model and comprehend designing as a process. Thus, we see papers in this volume which have as their focus the development or implementationofframeworks for artificial intelligence in design - attempting to determine a unique locus for these ideas. We see papers which attempt to find foundations for the development of tools based on the artificial intelligence paradigm; often the foundations come from cognitive studiesofhuman designers.

Design is an important research topic in engineering and architecture, since design is not only a means of change but also one of the keystones of economic competitiveness and the fundamental precursor to manufacturing. However, our understanding of design as a process and our ability to model it are still very limited. The development of computational models founded on the artificial intelligence paradigm has provided an impetus for much of current design research -- both computational and cognitive. Notwithstanding their immaturity noticeable advances have been made both in extending our understanding of design and in developing tools based on that understanding. The papers in this volume are from the Third International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Design held in August 1994 in Lausanne, Switzerland. They represent the cutting edge of research and development in this field. They are of particular interest to researchers, developers and users of computer systems in design. This volume demonstrates both the breadth and depth of artificial intelligence in design and points the way forward for our understanding of design as a process and for the development of computer-based tools to aid designers.

Change is one of the most significant parameters in our society. Designers are amongst the primary change agents for any society. As a consequence design is an important research topic in engineering and architecture and related disciplines, since design is not only a means of change but is also one of the keystones to economic competitiveness and the fundamental precursor to manufacturing. The development of computational models founded on the artificial intelligence paradigm has provided an impetus for much of current design research -both computational and cognitive. These forms of design research have only been carried out in the last decade or so and in the temporal sense they are still immature. Notwithstanding this immaturity, noticeable advances have been made both in extending our understanding of design and in developing tools based on that understanding. Whilst many researchers in the field of artificial intelligence in design utilise ideas about how humans design as one source of concepts there is normally no attempt to model human designers. Rather the results of the research presented in this volume demonstrate approaches to increasing our understanding of design as a process.

Dave Oliver, Celia Romm and Fay Sudweeks This book follows previous texts: Celia Romm and Fay Sudweeks (eds) (1998), Doing Business Electronically: A Global Perspective of Electronic Commerce, and Fay Sudweeks and Celia Romm (eds) (1999) Doing Business on the Internet: Opportunities and Pitfalls. Not only is this current book about doing something, but it also aims to present insights into how electronic commerce impacts upon the lives of everyday people; in other words, how electronic commerce is received, as well as how it is 'done'. Accessing the Internet on a regular basis has become an established activity for many people. This activity gives academics and researchers the opportunity to observe and study the nature and effects of this engagement in society. The influence of the Internet in our social fabric also provides the incentive for organizations to implement a web presence. As expressed in the title Self-Service on the Internet: Expectations and Experiences, we aim to present the expectations or reasons for the availability of various services on the Internet, and social responses to these developments, i. e. the experiences. These are the two main dimensions to the chapters presented in this book. The major component in the title is self-service on the Internet. The term electronic commerce is too restrictive for our purpose as it tends towards commercial overtones, which do not especially concern us.

Dave Oliver, Celia Romm and Fay Sudweeks This book follows previous texts: Celia Romm and Fay Sudweeks (eds) (1998), Doing Business Electronically: A Global Perspective of Electronic Commerce, and Fay Sudweeks and Celia Romm (eds) (1999) Doing Business on the Internet: Opportunities and Pitfalls. Not only is this current book about doing something, but it also aims to present insights into how electronic commerce impacts upon the lives of everyday people; in other words, how electronic commerce is received, as well as how it is 'done'. Accessing the Internet on a regular basis has become an established activity for many people. This activity gives academics and researchers the opportunity to observe and study the nature and effects of this engagement in society. The influence of the Internet in our social fabric also provides the incentive for organizations to implement a web presence. As expressed in the title Self-Service on the Internet: Expectations and Experiences, we aim to present the expectations or reasons for the availability of various services on the Internet, and social responses to these developments, i. e. the experiences. These are the two main dimensions to the chapters presented in this book. The major component in the title is self-service on the Internet. The term electronic commerce is too restrictive for our purpose as it tends towards commercial overtones, which do not especially concern us.

The Internet is currently the fastest-growing and most widely-used technology for doing business electronically. Yet, despite its obvious advantages, it is clear that it is fraught with problems: customers are reluctant to use it for purchasing products; surfing is time-consuming and costly; and users are rapidly becoming disillusioned with its failure to fulfill early promises. In an invaluable follow-up to "Doing Business Electronically", Doing Business on the Internet provides a collection of readings which look objectively at what Internet commerce can offer both the consumer and the provider. Primarily of interest to researchers and students in areas such as electronic commerce, business strategy, management of information systems, project management and organisational change, it will also be of interest to corporate managers involved with developing their company's Internet-based strategies and to anyone interested in how to buy or sell on the Internet.

This volume presents a global perspective on the major areas of electronic commerce, including (but not limited to) those related to the World Wide Web. It does not focus on technical issues, but instead examines the commercial, social and cultural aspects of electronic commerce, including buyer-seller relationships, consumer decision making, information strategy, EDI, electronic banking, information systems for electronic banking, and channel integration.

Designing is one of the most significant of human acts. Surprisingly, given that designing has been occurring for many millenia, our understanding of the processes of designing is remarkably limited. Recently, design methods have been formalised not as humano-centred processes but as processes capable of computer implementation with the goal of augmenting human designers. This volume contains contributions which cover design methods based on evolutionary systems, generative processes, evaluation methods and analysis methods. It presents the state of the art in formal design methods for computer aided design.

With the advent of new media and Web 2.0 technologies, language and discourse have taken on new meaning, and the implications of this evolution on the nature of interpersonal communication must be addressed. Innovative Methods and Technologies for Electronic Discourse Analysis highlights research, applications, frameworks, and theories of online communication to explore recent advances in the manipulation and shaping of meaning in electronic discourse. This essential research collection will appeal to academic, research, and professional audiences engaged in the design, development, and distribution of effective communications technologies in educational, social, and linguistic contexts.

The papers in this volume represent research and development in the field of artificial intelligence. This volume demonstrates both the breadth and depth of artificial intelligence in design and points the way forward for our understanding of design as a process and for the development of advanced computer-based tools to aid designers. The paper describes advances in both theory and applications. This volume should be of particular interest to researchers, developers and users of advanced computer systems in design.

Design is an important research topic in engineering and architecture, since it is not only a means of change but also one of the keystones of economic competitiveness and the fundamental precursor to manufacturing. However, our understanding of design as a process and our ability to model it are still very limited. The development of computational models founded on the artificial intelligence paradigm has provided an impetus for much of current design research - both computational and cognitive. Notwithstanding their immaturity, noticeable advances have been made both in extending our understanding of design and in developing tools based on that understanding. The papers in this volume are from the Third International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Design held in August 1994 in Lausanne, Switzerland. They represent research and development in this field. They should be of particular interest to researchers, developers and users of computer systems in design. This volume aims to demonstrate both the breadth and depth of artificial intelligence in design and point the way forward for our understanding of design as a process and for the development of computer-based tools to aid designers.

Change is one of the most significant parameters in our society. Designers are amongst the primary change agents for any society. As a consequence design is an important research topic in engineering and architecture and related disciplines, since design is not only a means of change but is also one of the keystones to economic competitiveness and the fundamental precursor to manufacturing. The development of computational models founded on the artificial intelligence paradigm has provided an impetus for much of current design research -both computational and cognitive. These forms of design research have only been carried out in the last decade or so and in the temporal sense they are still immature. Notwithstanding this immaturity, noticeable advances have been made both in extending our understanding of design and in developing tools based on that understanding. Whilst many researchers in the field of artificial intelligence in design utilise ideas about how humans design as one source of concepts there is normally no attempt to model human designers. Rather the results of the research presented in this volume demonstrate approaches to increasing our understanding of design as a process.