The Right Tool at the Right Time - Drawing as an Interface to Knowledge Based Design Aids

Abstract

Designers use differnet symbols and diagrams in their drawings to xplore alternatives and to comunicate with each other. therefore, a useful design enviroment should attemp to infer the designer's intentions from the drawing and, based on this inference, suggest apropiate computational tools for the task at hand. For example, a layout bubble diagram migth activate design cases with similar configurations. Scribbles of view lines on a floor plan migt bring up a spatial analysis tool. This research aims to develop an integrated digital sketching enviroment to support early design activities. The paper proposes RT2, an intelligent sketch enviroment that provides the designers whit the rigth tools at the rigth time.