Design support using distributed web-based AI tools

Currently, designers are faced with searching through a `sea' of on-line knowledge to support their decision making activities. This paper describes WebCADET, which is a reimplementation of the stand-alone CADET - a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) for product design evaluation. Web-CADET aims to provide effective and efficient support for designers during their searches for design knowledge. WebCADET uses the `AI as text' approach, where KBSs can be seen as a medium to facilitate the communication of design knowledge between designers. The development of WebCADET to include practical support via World Wide Web-based functionality, which illustrates the potential of the `AI as text' approach, is described in the paper.