Montero ICAS2008

Slide1: 

Generative Pattern-Based Design of User Interfaces Francisco Montero Simarro1,2, Jean Vanderdonckt2 1Laboratory on User Interaction & Software Engineering (LoUISE) University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete (Spain) 2Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) Louvain School of Management (LSM) Belgian Laboratory of Computer-Human Interaction (BCHI) B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)

Introduction: 

Introduction Motivations Pattern-based design of user interfaces is quite investigated today PLML = Pattern Language Markup Language (http://www.hcipatterns.org/PLML+1.0.html) Lack of expressivity: not all desired aspects are specified Flat definition: no data type, no hierarchy No separation of concerns: several aspects are mixed Lack of structure: no classes and relationships Descriptive patterns vs. generative patterns: => genuine patterns=both

Our contribution: 

Our contribution A structured extension of PLML in terms of a class diagram

Example: 

Example Starting web page: http ://www.sedan-bouillon.org

Example: 

Example Domain model in patterns Task model in patterns

Example: 

Example Abstract User Interface (AUI) model in patterns

Example in IdealXML: 

Example in IdealXML

How is the pattern stored?: 

How is the pattern stored?

How are mappings ensured?: 

How are mappings ensured?

How code is generated?: 

How code is generated? All models are stored in UsiXML (www.usixml.org) Domain model Task model User model if any Abstract User Interface model Concrete User Interface model Model compilers are used to generate code XHTML Java XUL

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Benefits A pattern-based approach for designing user interfaces User-centered (with task and user models) Data included (with domain model) Top-down method: task + domain => Abstract => Concrete => Code Transformational approach: mappings are explicit Patterns are really Descriptive: static attributes (characteristics, etc.) Generative: lead to final code Limitations The descriptive expressiveness seems fine, but the generative expressiveness will always be bound to the capabilities of the underlying models and the transformations engines Future work Enriching the collection of patterns Expanding to other types of UIs than merely GUIs

Thank you very much for your attention: 

Thank you very much for your attention For more information and downloading, http://www.isys.ucl.ac.be/bchi http://www.usixml.org User Interface eXtensible Markup Language http://www.similar.cc European network on Multimodal UIs Special thanks to all members of the team!