| End-user GUI customization | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 1-8 | |
| Christof Lutteroth; Gerald Weber | |||
| Constraint-based description of GUI layout is a powerful technique, but
having to define constraints manually is not user friendly. We propose a GUI
editor for the Auckland Layout Model (ALM) that can handle constraint-based
layout in a WYSIWIG manner, making it much easier to create or modify complex
layouts. Furthermore, the GUI editor is built into the layout manager that is
used during the runtime of a GUI application, making it accessible to the
end-user. Users can switch from the operational mode of a GUI into the editing
mode, and immediately adjust the GUI to their needs. GUI specifications can be
managed in a platform-independent XML-based description language, leading to a
document-oriented paradigm for GUIs. The implementation of GUIs currently
changes from hard-coded GUIs to document-based approaches such as XAML and XUL.
Sadly, this shift is currently performed as a mere reengineering of the
development process and driving forces are chiefly productivity and
maintainability. Our approach, in contrast, aims at enhancing user options and
also platform-independence. Keywords: GUI, WYSIWYG, constraint programming, document orientation, end-user
development, layout manager | |||
| Interactive visualisation techniques for dynamic speech transcription, correction and training | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 9-16 | |
| Saturnino Luz; Masood Masoodian; Bill Rogers | |||
| As performance gains in automatic speech recognition systems plateau,
improvements to existing applications of speech recognition technology seem
more likely to come from better user interface design than from further
progress in core recognition components. Among all applications of speech
recognition, the usability of systems for transcription of spontaneous speech
is particularly sensitive to high word error rates. This paper presents a
series of approaches to improving the usability of such applications. We
propose new mechanisms for error correction, use of contextual information, and
use of 3D visualisation techniques to improve user interaction with a
recogniser and maximise the impact of user feedback. These proposals are
illustrated through several prototypes which target tasks such as: off-line
transcript editing, dynamic transcript editing, and real-time visualisation of
recognition paths. An evaluation of our dynamic transcript editing system
demonstrates the gains that can be made by adding the corrected words to the
recogniser's dictionary and then propagating the user's corrections. Keywords: automatic speech transcription, error-correction, semi-automatic speech
transcription, speech recogniser training | |||
| Towards the design of a kids' music organizer | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 17-22 | |
| Manuela Hutter; Sally Jo Cunningham | |||
| In this paper, we investigate how young children aged 2 to 5 interact with
music and their family's music collections. By going into their homes,
interviewing them and their parents and observing the children performing a
range of music-related tasks, we explore the way that pre-school children
select, interact with, and organize music. Additionally, drawing tasks were
included in the visits to engage the children and allow them to demonstrate
their thoughts in a concrete manner. Insights into the children's' music
behaviours suggest design features for a music organizer / player for very
young children. Keywords: children, qualitative research, requirements elicitation, user-centered
design | |||
| Issues of extending the user interface of integrated development environments | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 23-30 | |
| Samuel Hsiao-Heng Chang; Xiaofan Chen; Richard Anthony Priest; Beryl Plimmer | |||
| The current level of extensibility of integrated development environments
(IDEs) does not provide sufficient access to make modifications to their user
interface components. This limits innovation in IDEs. This paper reviews the
problems we have encountered and presents alternative ways to help developers
achieve their goals of extending user interface components. Developers
interested in extending existing applications will appreciate the information
on likely problems and solutions with extensible architectures. Furthermore
general suggestions for software architecture extensions to maximize
extensibility are included. Keywords: annotation, extensibility, integrated development environment, user
interface | |||
| Interface evaluation for invisibility and ubiquity: an example from e-learning | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 31-38 | |
| Elizabeth A. Kemp; Ashleigh-Jane Thompson; Russell S. Johnson | |||
| This paper reports on the development of a framework for the heuristic
evaluation of the interface to a learning appliance, that is a teaching system
where students can study the course content without thinking about the
technology. It has been argued that in systems of this kind the emphasis should
be on invisibility, usability, universality and usefulness. A set of heuristics
was generated based on those for evaluating web and ubiquitous systems but
tailored to the requirements of a learning appliance. These heuristics were
used to evaluate IMMEDIATE (Integrating MulitMEdia in a DIstAnce learning and
TEaching environment), a teaching system intended to address the digital divide
in education by providing a specialised, easy-to-use, e-learning environment
for the PC. The results indicated that whilst IMMEDIATE supports the
appropriate functionality, some improvements can be made to enhance the
learning experience. Keywords: interface evaluation, learning appliance, ubiquitous computing | |||
| Encouraging better hand drying hygiene | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 39-45 | |
| Sally Jo Cunningham; Andrew Will | |||
| Electric hand driers have the potential to improve sanitation when using
public toilets; if used properly, electric driers can dry hands more thoroughly
than towels, and users do not come into physical contact with potentially
contaminated objects. But electric driers are frequently used for just a few
seconds -- and so the potential advantage is lost. This paper describes the
prototyping and evaluation of a system intended to encourage longer hand drying
times in public toilets. The challenges are: to develop hygienic interfaces for
use in toilet areas; to design simple to use software that is engaging enough
to be used several times a day; and to conduct usability and system acceptance
tests in an environment in which users are highly sensitive about privacy
issues. Keywords: entertainment software, hygienic interfaces, privacy issues, public
restrooms | |||
| Directional interfaces for wearable augmented reality | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 47-54 | |
| Volkert Buchmann; Mark Billinghurst; Andy Cockburn | |||
| Wearable Augmented Reality can be used to overlay information onto the real
world. Directional interfaces in wearable Augmented Reality aid users to orient
themselves so that previously invisible targets are now inside their field of
view. This is relevant when the user tries to find the next waypoint during a
navigational task. We surveyed directional interfaces that have been used in
Augmented Reality previously and compared their efficiency. We have found that
a circular compass is the most efficient way to provide orientation cues. Keywords: directional interfaces, haptics, navigation, wearable augmented reality | |||