Using psychological aspects for the design of adaptive IT-tools for cooperative engineering

A crucial aspect in the advancement of creativity in human-computer systems is the human-computer interface. High user motivation, the use of domain overlapping knowledge during all development phases and dynamic allotment of work in the team is required to achieve high efficiency, performance and speed in product development. This can be maintained by an adaptive interface both on the tool and on the information level. The design of adaptive tools for collaborative engineering, also involves decisions on the design of work processes and organisation. The aim of this paper is to give some recommendations regarding the design of adaptive IT-tools based on the consideration of the adaptation process required in the support of collaborative engineering. This approach is put into practice in the Collaborative Research Centre'Development and Testing of Innovative Products', funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), in connection with the design of an adaptive user interface for r apid product development.