Computer-based mapping of human creativity requires a powerful framework with a flex- ible set of applications, catering for the needs of the creator. The DMCA is a framework with a set of tools, enabling the creation of a creative artefact with a simultaneous cap- turing of the creative process. Its pluggable design allows the adjustment of the tool set to the requirements of the user.
The DMCA is a web-enabled tool set with groupware-like facilities, aiming at the collabo- ration between creators. It is encouraging the users to work together on the same product as well as to exchange their knowledge.
The architecture of the DMCA follows a number of principles, which makes it to a universal creativity support tool. The principles evolved from the findings of the literature review in Chapter 2. The four main principles are the following:
Web-Enabled
A web-enabled application must cater for requests of services and resources via a net- work connection. This includes mainly the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP). Access to the resources is granted or rejected based on a proof of sufficient access rights. The requests might be made by a web browser or through inter-process communication via programming lan- guages like J ava and C++. The requested data or requested operation must be processed in real-time.
The De Montfort Creativity Assistant is a web-enabled application, which can be down- loaded and initiated by any browser from any standard website. This gives it the added benefit of allowing it to be platform- and workplace-independent.
Data-Centric
The most important element for creativity support tools is the collection, analysis and distribution of data. The data about the creative process as well as the data about the creative artefact are first-class citizens. Traditional creativity support tools aim for improved design principles in form of processes, implemented as methods or objects. Data is only seen as a second-class citizen.
The here proposed methodology focuses on the data that is moving and transforming in the system, rather than the processes that are performing those actions. Hence, a data- centric approach provides a natural focus on the processes behind creativity rather than on the design of the tools.
The De Montfort Creativity Assistant realises the data-centric approach through following principles [131]:
Modularisation and loose coupling of code. This is achieved through well-defined interfaces and abstraction.
Clear separation between data-handling and data-processing components. Data- processing components are likely to be stable while data-handling allows for differing data formats, persistence, and timeliness.
Code is hidden, but data is allowed to be shared across the entire distributed appli- cation, as well as the ability to modify and enhanced the application during its life cycle.
Data is exposed and is visible to the entire system.
Collaborative
The role of collaboration is very important for the creativity of creators. On the one hand, many of them would not be able to create something special without the interaction with others. On the other hand, some projects require the work force of many people to enable a complete in a reasonable time. Therefore, it is very important that a creativity support tool will foster co-operation and collaboration between creators. The collaboration can take place in different ways. For example, it can be the sharing of ideas through direct communication. Another example is a real-time collaborative environment. It allows sharing ideas, techniques and innovation.
The DMCA provides an integrated platform that enhances cooperation and enriches col- laboration in real-time. Facilities such as chat, white-board and pend-it note are all pro- vided in an integrated fashion. It allows a seamless integration of additional applications if required.
Discipline-Independent
It is well recognised that creativity appears where creators cross boundaries of different disciplines. A platform for the analysis and support of the creative process must enable an abstraction of data. This can be only guaranteed through separation between data and information about the creative process and the artefact itself.
The presented approach caters for this necessity. This benefits the integration and removal of tools from the DMCA
7.2.1 Layers of the DMCA
In Figure 7.1 one can see the various layers of the system.
Data Presentation
Creativity Mining Engine
Data Repositories
Knowledge Repository External Repository
Chat Pend-It Notes Whiteboard Collaborative Editor De Montfort Creative Environment
Internet Libraries Documents Creativity Mapper Version Control
The top-most layer represents the client side of the DMCA. The three layers below are located on the server side. The cloud in the figure illustrates that the DMCA is not a closed system, but using external applications and data sources. The term “External” does not indicate that it is stored on another server. It only indicates that the data was not created through the DMCA and its applications.
The design of the DMCA is based on a multi-tier architecture. The system basically imple- ments a three-tier architecture, but with an additional tier, representing the applications for the user. Each tier or layer has a specific task and provides a certain functionality. The functionality is provided by a set of tools which process or represent the data, involved in the creative process and the creation of an artefact.
The following paragraphs contain a detailed explanation of the tasks for each layer.
De Montfort Creative Environment and Creativity Mapper
The top-most layer represents the GUI of the DMCA. It contains a set of tools, which are used for the creation of the artefact as well as for communication with other creators and other helper tools.
Currently, the DMCE contains three applications: a chat facility with an integrated white- board, a collaborative editor for creative writing and notes with a reminder functionality. The applications are managed by the project management facility of the DMCE.
The pluggable design of the DMCA enables to change the main application in order to cater for the needs of the creator. The current version of the DMCE contains a collaborative editor, specially designed for creative writers. The removal of this application and adding another is possible with only minor changes to the system itself.
The De Montfort Creativity Mapper is positioned separately from the DMCE. It also belongs to the same layer - the GUI. However, the application can be used as standalone.
Data Presentation
The data presentation layer is responsible for the transformation of results for a user request into a proper structure. Furthermore, it will transform the input of the user into a structure, which enables further processing. Hence, the data presentation layer provides bidirectional data transformation.
This layer plays an important role for the flexibility of DMCA. Only structured data and well defined interfaces allow a clean integration of additional tools into the system.
Creativity Mining Engine
The creativity mining engine caters for the central analysis and data processing. It contains the methods for the creation of the creativity map as well as the BPDL parser for the identification of behavioural patterns. The latter technology is described in detail in the following sections.
Like the other layers, the creativity mining engine consists of several individual elements. The facility for the creation of the creativity maps is independent from the facility for the identification of behavioural patterns. This benefits the pluggable design and eases making changes to the system.
Data Repositories
The data repositories represent the databases of the DMCA. Those databases are knowl- edge databases, a version control system (storing the artefact) or even external repositories like Wikipedia.
Knowledge Repository
This represents the in Chapter 5 described knowledge repository. It contains the KMF and the knowledge database.
Version Control
The DMCA stores every version of the artefact. This version control system keeps track of the versions and the differences between them.
External Repository
This repository is a complementary knowledge source. It enables to access sources like Wikipedia or provides access to the Wordnet database. The word “external” does not indicate the location of the database. It only indicates that the content of the database was not created within the DMCA.