Phase 2: Idea Generation. It is computing to build ideas as
Figure 3 shows. Based on gathered and processed knowledge
and information, system computes following designed
algorithms and rules to generate initial ideas to realise
convergent thinking. Exploration, transformation and
combination are kernel activities of its computing step to generate initial ideas. Combination activity involves unfamiliar
combinations of familiar knowledge and information.
Exploration activity explores within an established conceptual
space. This is more likely to arise from a thorough and
persistent search of a well-understood space. Transformation
activity deliberately transforms a conceptual space. It should
involve the rejection of some of the constraints that define this
space and some of the assumptions that define the problem
itself. These three kinds of activities provide the basis of the
techniques to compute resources and generate initial ideas. The
results of one activity can be input of another activity to
generate ideas through multi-activities. However, it is not
necessary to implement all three kinds of activities. The
practical realities of their application must be worked out in
different applications and circumstances, usually on a case-bycase
basis. A set of inference rules has been designed to
support the proposed three activities as supporting techniques.
These inference rules are fundamental reasoning logics, which
is designed by employing description logics. Moreover,
language patterns are applied to form the generated ideas as
readable phases and sentences. Details of the idea generation
process, the inference activities and the developed inference
rules are proposed in another paper [16], which has been
accepted by a journal recently.