Due to the complexity of the calculations and the lack of effective standards, chemical engineers and chemists have been left behind their mechanical and electronic counterparts in having the benefits of a computer workstation addressed to their requirements. A need exists for the means to integrate existing and new applications through a common database, to provide an effective user interface and to generate high resolution graphics for input and output. The hardware and techniques to solve these problems for the chemistry profession exists; it is the purpose of this research to make use of identified system and manpower resources to investigate, define and test a system architecture which will satisfy their needs. The innovations offered in this proposal include the establishment of an interdisciplinary team of computer science and chemical engineering experts to study, define, and test a system architecture considering the special needs of the chemistry professional; the incorporation and test of unique applications software; the establishment of an effective user interface considering the use of "dynamic icons"; and determination of means to integrate existing and new programs compatibly. A preliminary market study and Phase III business plan has indicated the commercial viability of the system and the plan meets the criteria of the Connect Product Development Corporation (CPCD) from whom follow-on funding will be sought. SBIR Phase I funding of this program is user/technology questions on which the system architecture depends. Phase II funding will provide for demonstration of the capabilities and benefits of the proposed workstation, without which, excessive time and funds would be required to convince and gain the necessary widespread support of a body of users who are preconditioned to expect complexity.
