Collaborative systems engineering and social-networking approach to design and modelling of smarter products

Abstract

Employing systems engineering (SE) methodology and principles to the development of smart products has the potential of establishing a novel field of research. This paper summarises previous work in this area in order to define and characterise a revolutionary SE and social-networking framework for collaborative education, design and modelling of the next generation of smarter products. A conceptual framework and practical applications of SE approaches and social networking to support smarter product development is proposed. Future challenges that collaborative SE and interactive social networking techniques are likely to face in this domain are also discussed.