CALL FOR PAPERS
                   EAST-WEST CONFERENCE
               INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN DESIGN

            International Centre for Scientific and 
                Technical Information, Moscow
                    5-9 September 1994

Background Information
The conference belongs to a series of EAST-WEST conferences 
traditionally held at the International Centre for Scientific and 
Technical Information (ICSTI) in Moscow.  The aim of these 
conferences is to establish closer contacts, exchange ideas and 
experiences and build trust and understanding between scientists 
and practitioners from various countries and regions often named 
as "East" and "West".

Conference Aims
The conference is concerned with the creative human activity of 
designing artefacts such as systems, structures, machines and a 
variety of objects.  It aims to reconsider an important question: 

        How could we use information technology (IT) to enhance human 
creativity and improve the effectiveness of designers?  

Computers have been used as an aid for design for at least 30 
years.  Most successful manufacturers, construction companies and 
architectural practices are using Computer-Aided Design Systems 
(CAD) or Design Automation Systems (DAS), as these systems are 
sometimes called.  However, a keen observer cannot fail to notice 
that computers are almost always used as an aid for those stages 
of the design process that are well defined, for example, for 
generating diagrams, drawings, three-dimensional models, bills of 
materials and performing mathematical analysis using a variety of 
models.  The conference will build upon achievements and learn 
from limitations of current systems.  Examples of important 
questions which we shall discuss in Moscow include:

        Why is it that we do not know how to employ information 
technology at the conceptual stage of design when a major creative 
effort is required?  
Do we know how to support concurrent engineering, i.e. teams of 
designers from a variety of disciplines cooperating on the 
development of new products with customers and marketing 
specialists?  

        What is the best way of using IT to aid the strategic evolution 
of products, i.e. designing products that can evolve with changing 
requirements of customers?

Conference Topics
Papers are invited to cover the following topics.

o       Design Knowledge - the use of IT for collecting, refining, 
storing, manipulating, distributing and using design knowledge.
o       Study of Artefacts - the use of IT for collecting, refining, 
storing, manipulating, distributing and using knowledge about 
artefacts with a view to improving the effectiveness of designers.
o       Design Process - the use of IT for supporting various design 
activities. 
o       Design Creativity - the use of IT for aiding creativity.
o       Conceptual Design - the use of IT for supporting design in the 
domain of concepts.
o       Embodiment Design - the use of IT for aiding the transformation 
of concepts into physical components.
o       Concurrent Engineering - the use of IT for supporting 
cooperative work by co-designers.
o       Product Introduction Process - the use of IT for supporting all 
stages of the product introduction process, including 
manufacturing.
o       Designer-Centred CAD Systems - designing computer-aided design 
systems in a way that enhances creativity, experience, pattern 
recognition skills and decision making capabilities of designers, 
in contrast to attempts to "automate" design.
o       The evaluation of the effectiveness of CAD systems.
o       Advanced CAD concepts and techniques.

Offers of papers in related areas are welcome.

Panel Discussion
o       The lessons of CAD history - the achievements, mistakes, 
prospects. 

Conference Languages
Abstracts and papers should be written in English.  Presentations 
can be made either in English or in Russian.  Professional 
interpreters will be available for sequential interpreting during 
the Conference.  

Deadlines
o       Send a comprehensive abstract or draft paper by 15 February 1994.
o       Provisional acceptance will be announced by 1 April 1994.
o       Full papers are required by 1 June 1994

Invited Speakers
Several world leaders in the area of IT in Design will be giving 
plenary presentations.

Exhibition
State-of-the-art systems, packages and other facilities  will be 
demonstrated in a hall adjacent to conference rooms.  Those 
interested in making use of this facility should get in touch with 
organisers as soon as practical.

Social Programme
A rich programme of sightseeing and cultural visits will be 
organised with ample opportunities to meet Russian colleagues and 
learn about life in Russia. 
Details will be announced at a later stage.

Registration Fees
Registrations fees before 1 July 1994 are USA $ 300
Registrations fees after 1 July 1994 are USA $ 350
Fees include visa support, booking of hotel accommodation, 
attendance, conference proceedings, refreshments and lunches.

Conference Organisers
International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information, 
Moscow, and 
Design Discipline, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK,  
supported by the Russian Ministry of Science, Committee for Higher 
Education, Russian Academy of Sciences and Intergraph (CIS Liaison 
Office)

Conference Co-Chairmen:
        Professor Yuri Solomentsev, corresponding member of Russian 
Academy of Sciences, Rector of Moscow University of Technology, and
        Professor George Rzevski, Lucas Professor of Engineering 
Design, The Open University, UK.

The International Programme Committee includes well known 
researchers and practitioners in the field.  

Conference Coordinators:
        Dr Aleksandr Sorokin, International Centre for Scientific and 
Technological Information, Moscow, and
        Dr Anthony Lucas-Smith, The Open University, UK.

Abstracts should be sent to one of the two Conference Coordinators 
at the following addresses:

International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information,  
21-b Kuusinen St., 125252, Moscow, Russia.  
tel: (+ 7 095) 198 7121, 198 7021, 198 7341; 
fax: (+7 095) 943 0089, 198 9815;  
telex: 411925 MCNTI SU;  
e-mail:  SERG@ICSTI.MSK.SU

The Open University,  Design Discipline, Walton Hall, 
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UK.  
tel: (+44 908) 65 5022;  
fax: (+44  908) 65 4052;  
e-mail:  A.J.H.LUCAS-SMITH@OPEN.AC.UK


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