An Investigation into the Capabilities of a Virtual Workshop

The last ten years have seen major advances in design technologies, with Computer Aided Design (CAD), rapid prototyping and haptic feedback modelling evolving to perform operations that were unthinkable before the advent of affordable high speed computing. These technologies have now moved from commercial applications to higher education, and with the widespread use of three dimensional (3D) CAD in the secondary curriculum, it is not unreasonable to predict that the uptake of such technologies will follow suit. As the potential for a virtual workshop draws ever closer, this paper provides an overview of rapid prototyping and haptic feedback modelling through product design cases studies for a garden trimmer and toaster. The limitations and merits of these technologies are identified and the paper serves as a discussion document for those involved in the development of the secondary design and technology curriculum