As educators of the next generation of engineers who will take up the reigns as designers, manufacturing engineers and managers, we are in a very unique and responsible position. We should not under- estimate such a role as the investment of time and effort spent now will, hopefully, show rewards in the future. Although intended as a prelude to the IDER Design Builder system, ICE is designed to be effectively used as a stand alone learning resource. Using the system, students take on the role of an assistant to an enigmatic business consultant, who acts as a guide and mentor. Together they visit a virtual company , following the progress of a new product from the recognition of a need, to sales of the first batch manufactured.
ICE adopts a comic book visual style, with animated talking characters.
Throughout the programme these characters interact with the student providing formative guidance which is regulated by the student's own responses and progress. By actively answering questions and seeking information from the programme, students discover how the engineering design process operates within the company environment, and how a Concurrent Engineering approach may bring about improvements. To this end, ICE emphasises the value of communications within a company and their significance to successful concurrent engineering implementation. Additional relevant information is provided by hyper media links to on screen objects. Although designed for the PC environment without the capability of reproducing sound, a full soundtrack is also included to run in synchronisation with the screen display.