Eran Toch Can Computers Create Usable Interfaces by themselves?

Three things Usability Dynamic systems challenge User interface optimization

Usability

Dynamic systems challenge

User interface optimization

<1> Usability

It is hard to explain good usability It is easy to demonstrate bad usability

It is hard to explain good usability

It is easy to demonstrate bad usability

Too many choices

Too many choices

Alien Semantics

Alien Semantics

Too many distractions

Too many distractions

Unconventional Interaction

Unconventional Interaction

Bad Usability has Consequences

Palm Beach County Ballot Design Florida 2000

How do we enforce usability?

Manual Evaluation

<2> Dynamic systems challenge

Static Systems

User Web Services Pool I want to buy a book from Barnes and Noble, and to pay with any currency Agent

Book name BookFinderProcess BNPriceProcess CurrencyConverterProcess Book info Book price Output price Start End Ontology

Dynamic systems: Composition satisfies query + quality Modifications during runtime No static structure that enables usability analysis Currently, user interfaces are created directly from the service model

Dynamic systems:

Composition satisfies query + quality

Modifications during runtime

No static structure that enables usability analysis

Currently, user interfaces are created directly from the service model

The usability challenge The System Model The User Interface

The System Model The User Interface

<3> Usability Optimization

The Challenge: 1. Semantics 2. Navigation

Semantics: Properties Generalization Intersection Union Instances Cardinality Book BNPriceProcess Price ISBN Title Published Item Creator is has has Currency has $ ₪ € instances

Semantics:

Properties

Generalization

Intersection

Union

Instances

Cardinality

Demo: Liquid Interface With Leonid Goifman and Amir Lahav

Navigation System Model Naïve Task Model Optimized Task Model

How do we optimize?

Design Patterns A pattern describes an optimal solution to a common problem within a specific context . Christopher Alexander The Timeless Way of Building A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction 1970’ 1995’ 2007’ Architecture Object Oriented Software Design Other Areas: HCI, Organizational Behavior, Education, Concurent Programming… Gang of Four (GoF) Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software Many Authors

Design Patterns

A pattern describes an optimal solution to a common problem within a specific context .

Yahoo Design Patterns Library http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/

UIPatterns Patterns Library http :// ui - patterns . com /

Example: Flat and Narrow Tree large information hierarchies quickly lead to disorientation. Therefore, task collections should be organized in flat and narrow trees. Source: &quot;A Pattern Approach to Interaction Design&quot; (PAID) by Jan Borchers

large information hierarchies quickly lead to disorientation.

Therefore, task collections should be organized in flat and narrow trees.

Example: Go Back to a Safe Place Provide a way to go back to a checkpoint of the user's choice. The &quot;Home&quot; button and the “Back” The “undo&quot; feature Source: COMMON GROUND: A Pattern Language for Human-Computer Interface Design by Jenifer Tidwell

Provide a way to go back to a checkpoint of the user's choice.

What can we do with patterns? Model the pattern Recognize the task model appliance with the pattern Grade the appliance Alter the task model such that we maximize the grade

Model the pattern

Recognize the task model appliance with the pattern

Grade the appliance

Alter the task model such that we maximize the grade

Opt P 1 P 2 P 3 Task Model Task Model

More Questions Is there an optimal solution? Patterns are in conflict Is the solution computable? What are the boundaries of mathematical model of usability? Can analyzing conflicts between patterns teach us something?

Is there an optimal solution?

Patterns are in conflict

Is the solution computable?

What are the boundaries of mathematical model of usability?

Can analyzing conflicts between patterns teach us something?

Thank You. More info: http://www.technion.ac.il/erant