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Period: to
Project Timeline
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Worskop 1
This was mainly about using focus groups to gather end user requirements. What the users expect of the tool we are looking to design and some of the problems/limitations with current workflows. -
Workshop 2
2nd Workshop focused on reviewing current functionalities and conceptualising the Graphical User Interface. -
Graphical User Interface Mock Up
This involved using Microsoft Story Boarding tools to mock up the user interface to create a feel for what the User interface will look like. This was also used to get feedback from the end users. -
Functional Specification Document
Using the collation of results from the focus groups, we drafted the first version of the Functional Requirement Document. -
Software Developer Kit Evaluation
We then went ahead to evaluate multiple SDKs and how closely they match our requirements. We discussed pricing as well and in some cases acquired licenses for evaluation. -
Problem
The quotes from the different SDKs were more than the budget available in the project. We needed to make a decision on how to proceed with the project. Initial approach was to see if we could negotiate a suitable price with the companies we were in conversations with. -
SDK Pricing + Negotiations
We then began to negotiate prices for the licenses we thought were relevant to our research. Spoke to a number of vendors, sadly we couldn't get an affordable deal at the time. -
Adobe SDK Installation
We Installed the Adobe SDK... -
Adobe SDK Evaluation
Adobe provides 3 ways of developing applications on thier platform.
1. Javascript
2. Plug In
3. InterApplication Communication So, we began with evaluating the Plug-in, along the way we discovered that the library limited the use of typical windows API functionalities which has been discontinued in the SDK. We moved our development to the IAC platform, upon which we are now developing. The advantage here is that the IAC allows us full control of our interface and complete access to the adobe. -
Problem
The major problem was not knowing the possibilities of implementing some of our desired functionalities. There was very limited support on the Adobe platform. A potential problem for the future. SDK documentation was very poor. There were 3 different ways of engaging the Adobe SDK. -
Design Implementation
We decided to use the Inter Application Communication as it provided more control than the other two options. -
Conference Paper on Remanufacturing
Travelled to De Montfort University to write a conference paper with Dr Feng. The paper titled "Model Based Virtual Approach to Re-manufacturing Design" We submitted to The Science and Information Conference. -
Testing & Evaluation
Ongoing Phase... -
Future Work & Recommendation
- More research into the application of 3DPDF technology using industrial case studies.
- Developing and Implementing more functionalities.
