The mobile arm support project as a test-bed for design research at the Cambridge EDC

A host of methods and tools to support designing are being developed in Cambridge EDC. These range from tools for design management to those for the generation and selection of design ideas, layouts, materials and production processes. A project, to develop a device to improve arm mobility of muscular dystrophy sufferers, is undertaken as a test-bed to evaluate and improve these methods and tools as well as to observe and modify its design and management processes. This paper presents the difficulties and advantages of using design methods and tools within this rehabilitation design context, with special focus on the evolution of the designs, tools, and management processes.

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An analysis of factors improving technology roadmap credibility: A communications theory assessment of roadmapping processes

In recent years, many industrial firms have been able to use roadmapping as an effective process methodology for projecting future technology and for coordinating technology planning and strategy. Firms potentially realize a number of benefits in deploying technology roadmapping (TRM) processes. Roadmaps provide information identifying which new technologies will meet firms' future product demands, allowing companies to leverage R&D investments through choosing appropriately out of a range of alternative technologies. Moreover, the roadmapping process serves an important communication tool helping to bring about consensus among roadmap developers, as well as between participants brought in during the development process, who may communicate their understanding of shared corporate goals through the roadmap. However, there are few conceptual accounts or case studies have made the argument that roadmapping processes may be used effectively as communication tools. This paper, therefore, seeks to elaborate a theoretical foundation for identifying the factors that must be considered in setting up a roadmap and for analyzing the effect of these factors on technology roadmap credibility as perceived by its users. Based on the survey results of 120 different R&D units, this empirical study found that firms need to explore further how they can enable frequent interactions between the TRM development team and TRM participants. A high level of interaction will improve the credibility of a TRM, with communication channels selected by the organization also positively affecting TRM credibility. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.