GUNGEN: groupware for a new idea generation consistent support system

This paper describes GUNGEN groupware for a new idea generation consistent support system and its application to research activities. In Japan, the KJ method is known as one of the problem solving methods. GUNGEN allows us to execute the distributed and cooperative KJ method over a computer network. GUNGEN consists of three software components. The first component is KJware which supports the KJ method. The second is Wadaman which is a card-type database providing an environment to collect ideas. The third is NetGear which is a multimedia communication tool. Wadaman is necessary for the GUNGEN supported consistent KJ method. The combination of KJware and Wadaman makes it possible to carry out the KJ method using data stored in Wadaman. However, Wadaman has not been used for collecting ideas because it has not been easy to input data compared with writing down an idea on paper. On the other hand, Wadaman has improved as a remote seminar system. Through a remote seminar between two universities via the Internet, many seminar reports have been stored as Wadaman card data. In this time, GUNGEN makes it possible to carry out the KJ method using the report cards stored in Wadaman.