User Controlled Features

~ ~ The user of the system has control over a variety of the features used in designing a tower. Although total control is not available, the user does have the ability to significantly influence the design. Below is a summary of the user's options.

Requirements:

The user can specify a variety of requirements that the tower must meet. These include the weight that the tower must support, the time needed to construct the tower, and the importance of minimizing cost (which can affect some choices of material, etc). Environmental factors, such as windspeed, rainfall, smog, and acid rain can affect the choice of materials, and the shape of the tower. The user can affect the final outcome based on what values are chosen for these requirements.

Abstract Tower:

The user has the final say in the type of tower, either I, A, or X. This choice may be contrary to the advice of some expert systems, but is still within the user's control. This choice affects how the tower will ultimately look.

Measurements:

The user can change the height, base size, and platform size of the tower. This affects the angles that the final pieces will have to follow and can affect the stability of the tower and the number of pieces that are needed to build it.

Component Selection and Positioning:

The user selects the order in which components are added to the design. To add a component, the user specifies the position at which the component should be placed. Then the exact attributes of the component are selected: length and material for supports, type for connectors. These choices affect the angles of the pieces and the compatibility of the pieces. The user can use the Undo feature to remove components that have been added to the design.