ABSTRACT
This poster investigates memory issues that influence long-term creative problem solving and design activity, taking a case-based reasoning (Kolodner & Wills, 1993) perspective. Our exploration is based on a well-documented example: the invention of the telephone by Bell (1908). But to understand this act of creative design, we have to analyze Bell's earlier research goals. We abstract Bell's research method and the reasoning mechanisms he used that appear time and again in long-term creative problem solving. In particular, we identify an understanding mechanism used widely by those processes which rely on previous experience. Finally, we integrate the new mechanisms in a computer model, ALEC, which features creativity elements in case-based design.
