Crossing the Border examines the emergence of a new philosophy based
on the idea of "human-centred technology" and, through the use of a case
study, illustrates the ways in which users, social scientists, managers
and engineers can participate in the design and development of
human-centred computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system. The book
offers a unique insight into a large European project (ESPRIT project
1217) aimed at the design and development of a human-centred CIM system.
The book examines the problems inherent in developing interdisciplinary
design methods and of "crossing the border" between the social and
engineering sciences. The authors offer proposals and guidelines for
overcoming such problems based on their experience within this project.
Crossing the Border will be of particular interest to researchers
and practitioners in the area of factory automation, to students and
researchers in AI, and to all those interested in the human and
organisational issues surrounding the computerised factory of the
future.