Methods and systems for computer-aided identification of technical phenomena

A method for computer-aided identification of technical problems, the method comprising executing a computer program on a computer, the computer comprising:

• an alphanumeric data input,
• a graphical information input, and
• a visual display;
• wherein:
• the executing the program prompts the computer to display a sequence of windows which request input for a description of the technical problem,
• wherein:
• the input can be alphanumeric, human natural language and/or a graphical image,
• identification of the technical problem may be determined according to specific logic and construction rules of the human natural language expression or the graphic expression,
• formulation rules may change from window to window and are displayed at the margin of a data input field in the window,
• the method further comprising formulation steps, the formulation steps being grouped together in three formulation stages comprising:
• a first formulation stage for defining/formulating the technical problem at macro level with reference to an element affected by an undesired effect,
• a second formulation stage for formulating the technical problem at a more detailed micro level, that is on an enlarged scale still with reference to a micro element affected by or showing the undesired effect, and
• a third stage for defining the element generating the undesired effect on the element affected by it and an effect or an action that the undesired effect results from.