CATIA Companion Offers End-Users Up-to-Date Learning Resources Anytime, Anywhere

Continuing education and the availability of on-the-job training have become more frequently requested, if not expected, in technically oriented jobs. Recognizing this trend, IBM and Dassault Systemes have stepped up to the plate by offering a new, easy to use suite of Web-based Learning Solutions (WLS) called Companion. Companion, an upgrade of the previous CATIA V4 Computer Based Training (CBT) products, is available at any time, in any location and is accessible by anyone - putting the learner in control of the content and timing, while meeting the goals of their company.

WLS is the next generation of Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS) that enable CATIA users to access all of the necessary information and training to assure them an efficient user experience right at their desktops. It is designed to address the needs of multiple learning environments, such as the needs of a small company with a fast installation of the product on a single workstation, as well as larger companies who wish to have their training solutions implemented on a client/server architecture, relying on Intranet/Internet standards.

Currently, CATIA WLS is available for products including CATIA V5 Mechanical Design 2 configuration (MD2), CATIA V5 Generative Shape Design 2(GSD) and CATIA V4 Solid Based Design (SBD) configuration. In addition, it offers CATIA V4 CBT users a transition path to CATIA V5 WLS. WLS products are also available for the ENOVIA brand (VPM and DMU), thereby providing an integrated solution around CATIA and ENOVIA. An updated version of the Companion material is being developed in conjunction with CATIA V5R8 and will be ready when the new version is available.

The flagship product of WLS is the CATIA user Companion Desktop. The Companion Desktop, a Java-based applet, is a composite of learning resources including skillets, courses and job aids.

Skill applets, or skillets, are the core learning objects of the Companion Desktop. Standard or customized sets of skillets are combined together to create a series of courses for an education or training program.

Job Aids are step-by-step screens that accompany many tasks so that the user does not have to memorize procedures for difficult or infrequent operations.

FAQs and e-mail tools are also included to support and enhance the learning experience.

Each skillet teaches the user one procedure, feature or skill in 30 minutes or less. Most skillets extend past an explanation into a demonstration, monitored practice or CATIA exercise based on a user scenario. Skillets can either be accessed in a prescribed order based on a course, or directly, one at a time through a built-in search engine.

Skillets also have components which allow for extra assistance or application practice. The "Show Me" component, for example, provides a hands-free demonstration (movie) of a skill or feature allowing the learner to focus on the process of the procedure. It can also be used for a refresher in a procedure allowing a learner to concentrate on the unknown knowledge or skills. The "Monitored Practice" component allows learners to simulate procedures and receive feedback, to reinforce correct actions, and rectify incorrect ones. This enables users to learn new procedures quickly without risking affecting their current work document. Within the "Monitored Practice" component, the user may also opt for detailed prompts, or no prompts to facilitate discovery learning.

Once a user feels confident, he or she can move onto the "Do It in CATIA" component. Here, the learner can practice in a real CATIA environment with the assistance of prompts and directions. It is an opportunity to practice on sample parts to improve skills. Companion Desktop also provides an assessment component to assist a learner's progress. Quizzes for self-assessment, where the scores are private, and final reviews, where the scores are stored, can be embedded in the skillets and courses.

Additional features of Companion Desktop include:

• Keyword search engine for instant access to skillets, job aids or courses for a specific procedure, task, skill or topic
  
  
• Bookmark support for quick access to user-stored links to preferred information
  
  
• E-mail support for learners to access an instructor or support person
  
  
• FAQs log containing common and customized Frequently Asked Questions
  
  
• Learning Management System support to integrate with a company's enterprise training program
  
  
• Company knowledge or best practice documentation linkage
  
  

In addition to the Companion's book marking capabilities, the program keeps track of each user's progress and access. Companion then recommends a restart or continuation in response to where he or she left off during the previous session. Companion Desktop also provides a progress color scheme for visual reference of previously covered material and content which has yet been learned. This color scheme also allows each user to ensure that while they may experience the contents of the training program in a different order than prescribed, they are provided a reference when all material is complete.

Just as CATIA has enabled the CAD technology to revolutionize the Product Lifecycle Management business, CATIA Companion products revolutionize the education and training of CATIA users by providing an e-learning solution for companies. CATIA Companion achieves the goal of any corporate e-learning system, which is to supply the workforce with an up-to-date and cost-effective program whose end result is motivated, skilled and knowledgeable workers in the company's software and processes.

Conventional instructor-led course material is also available allowing organizations to create a blended training program utilizing an e-learning solution and traditional methods in the education of CATIA users. Contact IBM or your IBM Business Partner for a demonstration of the Companion solution or assistance with your education program.

Dassualt Systems Unveils the Software Community Program

This open partnership program is dedicated to independent software vendors (ISVs) willing to develop, market and sell enterprise solutions to support Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and associated business processes: SCM, ERP, and CRM. Within this program, software partners leverage the V5 next-generation open architecture, the foundation of CATIA, ENOVIA, DELMIA solutions. In a collaborative spirit, ISVs develop V5-based solutions to fully support customers' end-to-end business processes.

The cornerstone of this program consists of the productivity-driven Component Application Architecture V5 (CAA V5) and its associated Rapid Application Development Environment (RADE). This productive environment improves developers' agility, by letting them concentrate on their core competency for high added value applications. This enables software partners to significantly reduce their development cycle, to deliver robust, innovative and open PLM solutions, thus helping them to optimize their investments. The independent industry newsletter, "Computer Aided Design Report," wrote in its July 2001 issue, "The new CAA V5 is the most modern environment for third-party developers …"

The SCP is part of Dassault Systemes' Extended Enterprise approach, where partners share their cultures and expertise creating at the same time a powerful network that dramatically expands their business opportunities. Partners committed to developing full V5-based applications are eligible as Gold Partners. More than 15 leading-edge software companies have already joined the SCP and are currently taking full advantage of V5.

Through one-to-one relationships, DS offers intensive and comprehensive technical support to software partners as well as effective and targeted marketing expertise. Technical support includes direct access to DS research and development, consulting, audit, training, hotline and services, etc. Software partners benefit extensively from DS's awareness and win-win co-marketing initiatives. Access to a private B2B portal for the V5 developers' e-community is provided to accelerate collaboration, innovation, knowledge sharing and business opportunities.

The SCP allows manufacturing companies in all industries to benefit from the most comprehensive product portfolio in the market. They are offered best-in-class integrated solutions and applications to cover all their business processes. They dramatically reduce their product development phase and shorten time to market to stay ahead of competition. Moreover, their investments are protected as the partnerships are always established in a long-term perspective.

"DS' objective is to deliver significantly more value to its customers than any competitor. Our strategy is to create the network of the best ISVs worldwide, ready to share with us common goals, successes and business opportunities," said Bernard Charles, President, Dassault Systemes S.A. "We are delighted to see the most prestigious ISVs joining the Software Community Program and embracing our V5 strategy and technology."

If you want to get more information about the Software Community Program and how software partners' products will ease and speed your business processes, go to http://www.dsweb.com/community/software.

Copper Chip Technology for CATIA V5

IBM is shipping the newest IBM IntelliStation® certified for CATIA V5 -- the IntelliStation M Pro featuring either Intel® Pentium® 4 or Intel Xeon® processors and Fire GL4 graphics. This workstation is the first in the industry to offer the new Fire GL4 graphics card which is based on IBM's copper chip technology. Microprocessors based on IBM's copper chip technology -- launched only two years ago on high-end IBM servers -- improve performance dramatically as compared to chips based on aluminum. Pioneered by IBM researchers, these microprocessors are smaller, denser, faster and cooler than their aluminum counterparts. They are also more reliable and less expensive to manufacture. For the full story, please see http://www.ibm.com/Press/prnews.nsf/jan/E1141012DE68F83385256A3900775DC2.

For more information on the IBM IntelliStation, please visit http://www.ibm.com/intellistation.

John Nelson, jsnelson@us.ibm.com
IBM IntelliStation Brand -- http://www.ibm.com/intellistation
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