GB2400930A - Method of design modification - Google Patents

Abstract

Designing and manufacturing a product by the steps of providing a master design determining a form for the product, said design having at least one variable parameter associated therewith; varying the parameter; generating a plurality of possible views of the product; selecting one of the plurality of views and manufacturing the product according to a selected design corresponding to the selected view.

Description

PRODUCT PRODUCTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a consumer with a desired product. In particular, but not exclusively, a consumer is provided with a product which fulfill a desired function but which is manufactured, via an automated process, to a unique design.

Mass production itself is a relatively recent concept developed over the last century. Prior to mass production artefacts would be produced by craftsmen whose individual skills would be reflected in the product. The artefacts produced would be individual interpretations of a design formula. Each artefact produced could be more À À or less faithful to the original 'specification'. The À À design might be adapted to suit changes in stock material À or to work around a fault or blemish. As well as variance introduced intentionally by the manufacturer the....

process itself might have an effect. For example the process used might not be fully controllable. Many craft.

processes are a balance between demands made of the.. . À Àe process and the control of it, hand-blown glass objects is a good example. A craftsperson's mistake, rather than resulting in scrap, might produce an interesting twist on an old theme. In this way the design formula itself might be organic, developing and mutating over time.

This lack of uniformity, far from being seen as a negative by the consumer is often valued.

Mass production depends on uniformity. Since the world- wide adoption of mass production model the goal of manufacturing has been accurate repeatability. This has had a number of beneficial effects. Mass production has made desirable objects affordable. The size of the market allow levels of design development and the use of sophisticated processes not possible at lower volumes.

There is however a perception that something has been lost. In today's consumer world we are surrounded by every conceivable product for every possible application, all at affordable prices. This availability and the omnipresence of mass-merchandise fosters within us a desire for something personal and unique, something we can imbue with soul or character of its own. The term product' will be referred to hereinafter. It will be understood that it should be understood to encompass a very broad range of objects, artefacts and items which can be produced via any form of manufacturing process. À À A:

Mass customization has been developed to give the À . . consumer some sense of individuality in a chosen product.

Mass Customisation' can be defined as a delivery process....

through which mass-market goods and services are À.

individualized to satisfy a very specific customer need. . at an affordable price. Based on the public's growing. À À.

desire for product personalisation, it serves as the ultimate combination of "custom made" and "mass produced". There are many different models for mass customization suiting different products and market sectors. They are all however, consumer driven, and the key to mass customization remains modularisation and configuration. Products are "decomposed" into modular components or subsystems that can be recombined to more nearly satisfy consumer needs. This may be through a combination of options as in cosmetic customization, where the consumer selects from an extensive but finite range of colours and finishes. Alternatively the consumer may provide data on personal preferences or accurate measurements of body parts to enable the production of a 'tailor made' product. Consequently, examples of mass customised products range from genuine medical 'needs' such as perfectly fitting hearing aids to desired product differentiation in a kitchen stove or better-fitting bespoke jeans.

Nevertheless a consumer of such a mass customised product receives a far from unique product and will be aware that others may choose similar dimensions and/or colours or other parameters resulting in a substantially identical product.

One way around this is to return to the one-off Àe manufacture of products to individual designs however this leads to highly inflated costs which may be À A prohibitive.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to À.

at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems. . . According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a product comprising the steps of: providing a master design determining a form for said product, said design having at least one variable parameter associated therewith; varying said parameter; generating a plurality of possible views of said product; selecting one of said plurality of views; and manufacturing said product according to a selected design corresponding to the selected view.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program comprising program instructions for: varying at least one parameter of a master design for a selected product; displaying a plurality of possible views of said selected product on a user display of a user interface of a user terminal, said views indicating a form for the selected product as said parameter is varied; and receiving user input to select a one selected view of said selected product.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for obtaining a product comprising the steps of: À.

providing a database holding data used to generate possible views of said product, said views being non identical and having been generated by varying at least....

one parameter associated with a master design for said À.

product; . generating said possible views of said product and.. . displaying said views at a remote user interface of a user terminal; via said user interface, selecting one of said possible views; manufacturing said product in accordance with said selected design; and delivering said item to a user at a predetermined location.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a product comprising: a body portion manufactured, via a rapid prototyping process, according to a design selected by the steps of: providing a master design for said item, said master design having at least one variable parameter associated therewith; indicating, to a user, a plurality of views of said design, said views being generated as said parameter is varied; and selecting one of said plurality of views.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having thereon: computer program code means, when said program is loaded, to make the computer execute procedure to; . vary at least one parameter of a preloaded master design for a selected product; À display a plurality of possible views of said selected product on a user display of a user interface of....

a user terminal, said views indicating a form for the selected product as said parameter is varied; and. . receiving user input to select a one selected view. . of said selected product.

Embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that an automated process may be used to produce truly unique products. This enables a consumer to have a very personal product at an affordable cost.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a multitude of designs for an object/product whilst ensuring that the product made to each of these designs will be able to fulfil its function. Each of these modified designs may be tested by subjecting the product to various tests.

The model satisfying the test conditions the best may be subsequently selected for production.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a system for manufacturing a product; Figure 2 illustrates a manufacturing node; Figure 3 illustrates a server node; Figure 4 illustrates a lofting process; À À A.: Figure 5 illustrates a parameter varying process; À À À Figure 6 illustrates a parameter varying process; ...

Figure 7 illustrates a parameter varying process; .. I.:

Figure 8 illustrates a parameter varying process; Figure 9 illustrates how multiple parameters may be varied; Figure 10 illustrates a design for a product; Figure 11 illustrates a product; and Figure 12 illustrates a design for a product.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

The capability of computers to add an element of random selection to any mathematical function has been long appreciated. Perhaps some of the bestknown computer generated forms which include a random element are those resulting from the collaboration between the artist William Latham and the mathematician and computer graphics expert Stephen Todd. Latham had developed a hand-drawn system for generating abstract forms called form synth' in which geometric forms could be added together, undergo a series of predetermined deformations and then join with other forms to 'marry' and create 'offspring' consisting of complex forms bearing characteristics of both 'parent' forms. Using extensive resources, in the late 1980s Todd developed this method and joined it with elements of Richard Dawkins' Biomorph' system (Dawkins 1993) that demonstrated the power of natural selection, in order to create a piece of software called 'Mutator'. The system has developed a great deal since, most notably in its widely disseminated form as the 'organic art' software package (Computer Artworks 1995).

The driving force behind 'Mutator' was the creation of art. As such the complexities and types of Organic 3D forms generated are unapplicable to the production of everyday products such as chairs and candlesticks which must perform a function and which would need to be manufactured.

Figure 1 illustrates a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which a random element of variance may be introduced into one or more parameters of a design for a product. Thereafter the product may be manufactured to a unique design generated according to the randomly generated design.

The system 10 includes user terminals which may be a fixed user terminal 11 or mobile user terminal 12. The fixed user terminal which may be a PC includes a display which forms part of a user interface including a lO keyboard. Images may be displayed on such a user display as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The fixed user terminal is connected to the interned or other network 13 via connection 14 which may be a fixed line or wireless link. The mobile user terminal 12 is connected Is to the interned 13 via a wireless interface 15 to a transceiver node 16 and fixed connection 17. The mobile user terminal also includes a display 18 on which images may be displayed. The mobile user terminal may be a WAP enabled telephone. A server node 19 is connected to the internet via a connection 20. The server node includes a data store 21 and processing unit 22. The system also includes a rapid prototyping node 23 for example a stereo laser Wintering node which is connected to the internet 13 via connection 24. The rapid prototyping node provides a manufacturing point for a product 25.

It will be understood that many different forms of manufacturing process may be used to produce the product.

Any form of rapid prototyping process may be used or alternatively a single use tool or pattern may be produced to create the product at the manufacturing point. This system provides flexibility in the manufacture of artefacts inherent in digitally driven production techniques. Individualised production in which a random element of variance over parameters such as relative positioning of features, scale, proportion, surface texture and the like is introduced by a computer within a parameter envelope defined by a designer are enabled. The production system 10 provides the consumer operating a user terminal to be presented with a 3D digital model of a design. The design is presented as an animation showing the design morphing from an original master design randomly within a parameter envelope pre specified by the designer. The parameter envelope is the range of variable parameters defined for a design of the product which will ensure that the product can both function according to its purpose and look acceptable.

This animation is displayed on the user display 18, 26.

At any point the consumer viewing the image of the product may freeze the design, by for example pressing a button on a keypad. An order for a product manufactured to that design may then be placed either on line or via some other manner as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The server node 19 then generates relevant digital production files, for example.STL files and these are then transmitted to the manufacturing node 23 where they can be used to manufacture an individual product according to the design selected by the user.

The server node 19 holds records of a selection of design concepts, with associated parameter envelopes, which have been created. These may be created using appropriate 3D design software and made by a designer. For example a designer may design a new candle stick or light bulb by defining a master design for how a product made to that design will look and then stipulating one or more parameters such as size, height, number of stems etc which may be varied. A user using a user terminal can access these designs, for example by surfing the net and logging on to a website supplied with content from the server node l9. By interacting with a web page a user may select a particular product and therefore a particular design associated with that product. A run sequence may then be selected and observed in which the master design is randomly varied within the design envelope. This generates a plurality of views of the product in real time. The views illustrate different configurations of the design and thus ultimately a plurality of possible configurations of the finished product. A user may watch this image and eventually select an animation frame which displays a design of a product which the user finds desirable. This may be selected by pressing a button on a user interface of the user terminal or via some other manner. This selection signal is transmitted to the server terminal which then generates digital production files direct from the selected animation frame. These production files are transmitted to the manufacturing node 23 either directly or via the interned 13.

À::::.

Figure 2 illustrates a manufacturing point in more À A detail. The manufacturing point includes a production region 27 which may be a clean room where the product 25 is manufactured. In the case of manufacture via a stereo laser wintering technique a laser 28 may be used controlled via signals on line 29 by a computer 30. The computer includes a user interface including a monitor 3l and keyboard 32. The computer also includes a processing unit 33 and data store 34 and receives relevant digital production files via link 24. It will be understood that other forms or equipment may be used for varying types of rapid prototyping process. It will also be understood that when the production files input are used to manufacture a product via the production of a single use tool or pattern appropriate apparatus will be used.

Figure 3 illustrates the server node l9 which includes a processor 22 connected via input output devices 35 to receive user requests and to provide content to users. A production file generator 36 is included which receives data identifying a view selected by a user and generating a digital production file or other instruction to enable the manufacturing node 23 to produce an appropriate product. It will be understood that the manufacturing node 23 and server node l9 may be located together in which case connection via the internet is not required.

Rapid prototyping technologies used in this way offer more than the present day use of compressing product development cycles. Such layerbuild production processes allow for the direct transfer of virtual CAD models (or use of other design models) to produce real À.- objects. Model files may be e-mailed to a further party À - ..

at a manufacturing point for production. In this way each artefact physically produced will be a one-off variant of an organic design. The design is defined by parametric relationships and is maintained in a constant state of metamorphosis by computer software. This is viewed by a user who may select one of the many views displayed for subsequent production. The variance introduced may be over factors such as the relative positioning of features, scale, proportion, surface texture, pattern and the like. These variable factors may be multiple and interrelated. This achieves subtly different variations to a product around a central theme defined by a master design rather than mere differentiation that might be achieved by say scale or colour change alone.

Rather than specify a discrete design solution a designer sets up a series of rules and relationships that achieves a desired look over a potentially infinite range of outcomes. This is achieved using parametric computer aided design (CAD) software. This achieves a degree of random mutation. This does not mean a series of staccato jumps as one random value replaced by another. Rather the image of the model appears to grow with one mutation flowing seamlessly into the next. Each solution is intended to be substantially unique and will not be IS rapidly repeated in a cycle. The desired result can be achieved by setting variables to cycle through specified ranges. Different variables may be set to cycle at À Àdifferent rates with the differential providing the.. . random element. In addition rates of change can themselves be set to vary either increasing or decreasing A. at random (though with smooth implementation) over time. .. Àe-

À - ..

Figure 4 illustrates a simple box 40 which may for example form part of a product 25 such as a product structural leg. A simple solid model may be created by "lofting" three square sections. Lofting is the creation of a three dimensional form between usually 2D profiles and is a common feature in high end CAD. The dimensional value of each of the squares 41, 42 and 43 is allowed to cycle between 100% and 70% of a predetermined size.

Figure 5 illustrates the effect of this applied to only the upper square 43. Over a period of time the cycling of the variable 43 is set at a given rate. The other two variables 41 and 42 may be set to cycle through the same value range but at different rates. The effect of this is illustrated in figure 6. Starting with an initial design 60 the various upper, middle and lower squares 43, 42 and 41 are varied in dimension whilst the interconnecting dimensions are controlled to connect those squares whilst retaining a "real" body to the box.

Another element of variance which may be introduced is the addition of a twist about a vertical axis formed by rotating the horizontal profiles of the squares relative to each other. This is illustrated in figure 7. The mid profile of the loft construction may be allowed to rise and fall as illustrated in figure 8 in which the mid profile is located mid-way up at portion 80 and is raised upwardly from that point in portion 81 and nearer to the bottom square 41 in portion 82.

The rotation about the vertical axis and the asymmetric placement of the mid profile are assigned ranges and independent rates of change. These transformations may be overlaid on each other and the resulting forms are illustrated in figure 9. In figure 9 the upper area of the square 43 is 100% of maximum in body 90 this then reduces to the minimum area 91 in body 92 and then enlarges again until it is back to its fullest extent in body 93. As will be appreciated although twelve views of the body are illustrated in figure 9 these views may be displayed constantly as the body metamorphosis so that effectively a limitless number of images are produced.

In this way a viewer viewing the body 90 as it develops in its cycle would be shown many differing views.

Figure 10 illustrates a candlestick which is a suitable product for manufacture and which may be designed using the above-mentioned principles. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited in scope to the production of only household goods although these are of particular interest due to the demand for bespoke interior products. Rather any product which may be S manufactured could be used. The design has three legs 100, 101 and 102 which are joined at a top region 103.

Each of the legs has elements of variance similar to those illustrated with respect to figures 5 to 9. The three legs morph independently but with a constraint to ensure that the tops match. The legs are equally spaced at a separation specified for stability. The footprint of the legs is allowed to both twist about a vertical axis and move in a horizontal plane relative to the top to create further distortion.

It can be seen that the scope for variance is vast. The changes in form are however not arbitrary. Each of the variables is applied so that through their combination a desired look is achieved in organic form. It will be understood that if desirable only one characteristic/parameter could be allowed to vary. This would reduce the scope for variation in the product made to any selected design generated by such a variation but nevertheless the end product would be original and unique.

Another form for a candle stick produced in accordance with the abovementioned variations may be seen in figure 11. Where a number of candle holding elements 110 and feet 111 are specified and the position of the feet constrained so that the candle stick can perform its function of standing upright. Likewise the inner dimensions of the candle holding element llo will be constrained so that a predetermined candle size may be inserted. Other dimensions such as the distance between candle holding elements 110 and height of connection above the feet 111 may be varied within predetermined ranges.

Figure 12 illustrates an alternative product which can be manufactured according to the above-mentioned techniques.

The product is a light source produced to look like a standard light bulb. However rather than being a light bulb the product 120 is a luminaire with a light source of high intensity white light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The LEDs are mounted in the ends of tentacles 121 which appear to grow at random from the bulb form 120. The LEDs 122 are mounted in the ends of the tentacles. The end of each tentacle is dimensionally constrained to accept an LED and the direction in which the LED points restricted to certain angles with respect to the body portion. Further constraints may restrict the LEDs to certain angles from the vertical to avoid glare.

It will be understood that the products illustrated in figures 11 and 12 illustrate two approaches to the present invention. The first, candlestick approach is the manipulation of a core 3D form. The candlestick has À aced a simple structure consisting of three legs each of which may carry a candle. The legs are curved in three dimensions and taper from top to bottom. They touch and are joined towards the middle of each leg to form a stable three legged structure. The legs are evenly spaced and at a fixed separation for stability. The tops of the legs are constrained but not fully. Each top is required to remain in the same radial plane as a foot which is again for stability. The height of each leg may vary separately or together between a maximum and minimum value. A relationship is applied to ensure an even spread of height between the legs. This relationship prevents an outcome with two legs close to maximum height and one close to minimum, or the reverse scenario, which may be visibly unsatisfactory. The only constraints on the form of the legs between top and bottom are the degree of interference for a joint to be made and that the legs spiral in the same sense and in a smooth curve.

Figure 12 illustrates a further approach which is the application to the core 3D form of a variable feature. A body portion forming the core 3D form is shaped like a conventional light bulb whilst three distinct characters of "tentacle" may be applied. Drop forms like stalactites may be applied on the lower half of the bulb appearing to taper as they grown downwards as if under gravity. Alternatively tentacles form like drops from the lower half of the bulb. These may have a tendency to curl and coil. Risers may form like stalagmites rising from the upper half of the bulb. As they rise they lean Out from the bulb body and begin to curl under gravity like properties. These tentacles appear in varying proportion and random position over the bulb form. As a user view such a luminaire the various types of forms of tentacle will grow and/or contract out of the core 3D design of the bulb. If for example a user wants a particularly covered bulb, that is one having a large number of tentacles they wait until the view of the design alters into such a state.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art each organic design is thus defined by a production formula which can yield an infinite range of equally valid outcomes. To enhance their organic nature the designs r are seen continuously morphing in real time via animation on a user display. Rather than a video clip played on demand which may not be sufficient as there is no cycle in mutation (that is to say there is no obvious repetition in the cycle) the consumer may be offered a "web cam" window onto a design which is changing whether they are watching or not. In this way the consumer is presented with a 3D animated model of an artefact via a website. The consumer may access the website directly or via a sales outlet, at a gallery or in a department store or other access point. The website viewed may have a series of "production lines" corresponding to different products. When a particular production line is selected the user is presented with a computer animation showing that particular product in metamorphosis. At any given point the consumer may freeze the animation effectively creating a one-off design on screen. Should the consumer wish they may proceed with an order in which case the relevant digital production files are generated automatically and sent to the appropriate production facility. The unique one-off product would then be manufactured using rapid prototyping techniques (a form of layer additive manufacturing for example). This may be achieved directly via laser wintering in a suitable material such as aluminium for example or indirectly via the production of a single user tool or pattern. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the consumer is not provided with any ability to adjust design features to their liking. Rather the animation changes in real time outside the users control. In alternative embodiments the user may be provided with some selectable options for a design form one of the production lines. For example if selecting a candlestick the user may be able to select 2, 3 or 4 legs or the type of surface finish applied. In such a situation the design would not be a continually morphing "web came image but rather would begin altering in shape from an original master design (predetermined by a designer) having the characteristics selected by the user. The image of such a product would be displayed only to that user. The image would be created either at the server node and streamed to the user terminals or at the user terminals which include software for creating the images.

Such software may be inbuilt or be downloaded from, for example, the 'production line' website.

A virtual reality experience may be added to help users appreciate the form of a product as it is displayed on a user display. This enables the consumer to "move around" the design in their own time and at will as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Virtual reality contentsupplied to a website enables the website to bring the products "to life" with 3D models user interactivity, animation, sound and detailed views. The interactive image displayed on a user display allows the product to be seen from all angles. Potential customers are thus able to examine the design in the form of a 3D model moving, rotating and zooming in and out at will.

At some access points such as in galleries or in large department stores full virtual reality apparatus such as gloves and goggles may be provided to aid customer selection of a design. It will be understood that this is not necessary.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for economic large scale production of products whilst providing important reductions in wastage arising from the overproduction of unwanted items. Likewise embodiments of the present invention promote the move from reductive to additive manufacturing processes. As such they provide a more sustainable model for a consumer society than the one taken for granted today.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove by way of examples. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details

of these examples. À. À À À À À . À À: :. À... À À À À À À

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A method for manufacturing a product comprising the steps of:

   providing a master design determining a form for said product, said design having at least one variable parameter associated therewith; varying said parameter; generating a plurality of possible views of said product; selecting one of said plurality of views; and manufacturing said product according to a selected design corresponding to the selected view.
2. 2. The method as claimed in claim l further comprising the steps of: indicating said plurality of views to a user, said A. . user thereafter selecting said one view. .. . .
3. 3. The method as claimed in claim l or claim 2 further À:.

   comprising the steps of: .. . generating said possible views by varying said master design by varying said parameter, said views being..

   views of a product having a form determined by the so À. À varied master design.
4. 4. The method as claimed in any one of claims l to 3 wherein said master design includes two or more parameters which are variable, said method further comprising simultaneously varying said two or more parameters.
5. 5. The method as claimed in any one of claims l to 4 further comprising the steps of: continuously generating a view of said product as at least one parameter of said master design is varied.
6. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1 to 5 further comprising manufacturing said product via a rapid prototyping process.
7. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said rapid prototyping process comprises optionally (i) stereolithography, (ii) selective laser sintering or (iii) ED printing.
8. 8. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said parameter comprises one or more from (i) relative position of predetermined features, (ii) scale, (iii) proportion, (iv) surface texture and/or (v) pattern. À À.
9. 9. A computer program comprising program instructions for: varying at least one parameter of a master design.

   for a selected product; ....

   displaying a plurality of possible views of said..

   selected product on a user display of a user interface of À. À a user terminal, said views indicating a form for the selected product as said parameter is varied; and receiving user input to select a one selected view of said selected product.
10. 10. The computer program as claimed in claim 9 further comprising instructions for: displaying said plurality of views constantly on said user display, said views comprising a constantly varying image of said master design as said parameter is varied.
11. 11. The computer program as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 further comprising instructions for: loading said master design from a website provided with content from a server node remote from said user terminal.
12. 12. The computer program as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 further comprising instructions for: generating at least one transmittable manufacturing file for use at a remote manufacturing node to define the form of said selected product.
13. 13. The computer program as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein said user terminal comprises a personal À À.

    computer. .. . .
14. 14. The computer program as claimed in any one of claims À-.

    9 to 12 wherein said user terminal comprises a mobile..:.

    telephone. .... A:--:
15. 15. A computer program as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 embodied on a record medium.
16. 16. A computer program as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 stored in a computer memory.
17. 17. A method for obtaining a product comprising the steps of: providing a database holding data used to generate possible views of said product, said views being non- identical and having been generated by varying at least / one parameter associated with a master design for said product; generating said possible views of said product and displaying said views at a remote user interface of a user terminal; via said user interface, selecting one of said possible views; manufacturing said product in accordance with said selected design; and delivering said item to a user at a predetermined location.
18. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of: 15providing said database at said remote user terminal; and subsequent to said step of selecting one of said possible views, transferring data from said user terminal to a manufacturing node where said product is manufactured. :.
19. 19. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising.... À .

    the steps of: ..

    providing said database at a manufacturing node À. À where said product is manufactured; and transmitting data from said manufacturing node to said user terminal, said user terminal being arranged to be responsive to said data to display said plurality of views on a user interface of said user terminal.
20. 20. A product comprising: a body portion manufactured, via a rapid prototyping process, according to a design selected by the steps of: providing a master design for said item, said master design having at least one variable parameter associated therewith; indicating, to a user, a plurality of views of said design, said views being generated as said parameter is varied; and selecting one of said plurality of views.
21. 21. The product as claimed in claim 20 further lO comprising: at least one physical characteristic determined by a selected value for said variable parameter corresponding to the selected view.
22. 22. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having thereon: computer program code Àe means, when said program is loaded, to make the computer À . execute procedure to; . vary at least one parameter of a preloaded master i design for a selected product; À display a plurality of possible views of said..:.

    selected product on a user display of a user interface of....

    a user terminal, said views indicating a form for the À À selected product as said parameter is varied; and À. À.

    receiving user input to select a one selected view of said selected product.
23. 23. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. 24. A product constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
25. 25. A system constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. À . À. À À À À:. :. Àe- À - À

    - À À À Àe.