Using diagrams to access a case library of architectural designs

We describe the linking of a ‘computer as cocktail napkin’ program that interprets handdrawn sketches and diagrams with Archie III, a case based design aid, to support casebased reminding in conceptual design. Each case in Archie’s library includes stories, problems, and responses indexed and accessed by carefully chosen features. In addition to text, photographs, and drawings, many items in Archie’s case library are illustrated by simple diagrams. We have added these diagrams to Archie’s indexing scheme, so a handdrawn sketch can be used to retrieve items tagged with similar diagrams.