The Changing Technologies Underlying Computer-Aided Design

Computing is coming to play an increasing role in the design process. However, the role of computer-aided design cannot be understood without taking into account the major quantitative and qualitative changes that occur regularly as generations of computers develop. Computing technology may be viewed as autonomously impacting society. However, it may also be viewed as a product of society, created through its needs and moulded by its values. From this second point of view, the development of computing may be modeled as a succession of social learning processes arising out of the need to cope with an increasingly complex world. This gives rise to successive generations of computers with qualitatively different capabilities. Only now in the fifth generation and beyond are computing systems becoming able to interact with people at the levels of the higher processes of the mind. Thus, their major impact on design is yet to come.