The Knight Project aims at redefining tool support for object-oriented modelling. Current electronic tools for object-oriented modelling are problematic in terms of

• usability
• collaboration
• extensibility
• mobility

Usability and learnability of modelling tools are impeded through complex, heavy-weight interaction that works against what modelling is really about, viz., modelling and not mastering a modelling tool.

Collaboration using traditional desktop interfaces employed in modelling tools and the associated hardware is problematic or impossible. At the same time collaborative activities are critical in object-oriented modelling.

Extensibility of current modelling tools is almost non-existent: A single tool tries to support a wide range of object-oriented software development activities while being bound by a fixed, formal notation such as the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

Mobility in time and space is problematic using current modelling tools. Modellers are bound to specific places (desktop computers) whereas modelling activities are mobile in nature.

We work from the basis that these characteristics are the main reasons why adoption and use of object-oriented modelling tools are so low and try to change this through improved tool support.

More information is available on www.daimi.au.dk/~knight.

Background
The project has its root in the Dragon project, which was a multi-disciplinary project in collaboration with Maersk Line. The experiences from the Dragon project led to the initiation of the Knight project, with the goal of solving some of the problems with object-oriented modelling that were present in the Dragon project.

Project members

• Christian Heide Damm
• Klaus Marius Hansen.
• Michael Thomsen
• Michael Tyrsted

Partners

• University of Aarhus, Dept. of Computer Science
  www.daimi.au.dk
• The Alexandra Institute
  www.alexandra.dk/uk
• Ideogramic ApS
  www.ideogramic.com

Top