Abstract: A multi-user collaborative system in which the contents as well as the current status of other user activity of a shared structured data object representing one or more related structured data objects in the form of data entries can be concurrently accessed by different users respectively at different workstations connected to a common link. The WYSIWIS user interface representation of the shared structured data object includes an ordered listing of such entries that are maintained by the structured data object and various attributes of each listed entry, inter alia, the type and class of entry; the revision number of the shared structured data object; the number of pages and revision number of each structured data object entry; the date of creation and last revision of each such entry; whether an entry can be accessed by a user and, if not, who has prevented such access to prevent concurrent editing; whether a local instance of an entry is present on a user's system; and a provision for miscellaneous notes or comments relative to each entry for view by other users. Means is provided for maintaining current information relative to the shared structured object and its entries on a user initiated demand updated basis invoked by a user operation, which operation requires updated information to properly implement the operation.

Abstract: PAC is an implementation model that attempts to bridge the gap between the abstract sphere of theoretical models and the practical affairs of building user interfaces. It takes as a basis the vertical decomposition of human-computer interaction into semantic, syntactic and pragmatic layers as promoted by some theoretical models. However, PAC stresses the fact that these notions do not form strict monolithic layers but are distributed across related “chunks”, called interactive objects. For doing so, PAC recursively structures an interactive application in three parts: the Presentation, the Abstraction and the Control. The Presentation defines the the concrete syntax of the application whereas the Abstraction corresponds to the semantics. The Control maintains the mapping and the consistency between the abstract entities and their presentation to the user. The Presentation of an application is in turn decomposed into a set of interactive objects, entities specialized in man-machine communication. As for applications, an interactive object is organized according to the PAC model. PAC has been used for the construction of two interactive applications and is currently applied to the development of a User Interface Management System.

Abstract: A decision support package for the design of indexes in a relational database environment is presented. It originates from the theoretical results collected inside the DATAID methodology. Its main features are a high level language user interface, an incremental description of the design environment, a forecasting of the execution I/O costs if the proposed solution is adopted and also a guidance for the access paths to be selected in the various operations.

Abstract: Mermaid is a system that allows the user of multiple databases stored under various relational DBMSs running on different machines to manipulate the data using a common language, either ARIEL or SQL. It makes the complexity of this distributed, heterogeneous data processing transparent to the user. In this paper, we describe the architecture, system control, user interface, language and schema translation, query optimization, and network operation of the Mermaid system. Future research issues are also addressed.

Abstract: A UIMS developed at the University of Toronto is presented. The system has two main components. The first is a set of tools to support the design and implementation of interactive graphics programs. The second is a run-time support package which handles interactions between the system and the user (things such as hit detection, event detection, screen updates, and procedure invocation), and provides facilities for logging user interactions for later protocol analysis.The design/implementation tool is a preprocessor, called MENULAY, which permits the applications programmer to use interactive graphics techniques to design graphics menus and their functionality. The output of this preprocessor is high-level code which can be compiled with application-specific routines. User interactions with the resulting executable module are then handled by the run-time support package. The presentation works through an example from design to execution in a step-by-step manner.

Abstract: Better user interfaces to interactive computer systems are needed and one of the best ways to develop them is to iteratively implement, test, and redesign Currently, a major problem in user interface design and development is that this iterative design approach is very expensive As an attempt to solve this problem, many User Interface Management Systems (UIMSs) have been proposed These are software systems specifically designed for rapid prototyping of user interfaces Unfortunately, most of these are too restricted In particular, no UIMS that has been reported in the literature is designed to support interfaces where the user is free to use both hands concurrently, for example, positioning an object with one hand while selecting a colour for it with the other Also, most are severely restricted by a lack of support for communication among various components of the interactive system at run-time This limits the use of context dependent defaults and error recovery, resulting in inferior user interfaces or increased complexity in the user implementation This thesis makes two major contributions that address these problems: (1) a new language for specifying the syntax of human-computer dialogue languages, and (2) a new way of supporting communication among the run-time components of a user interface The syntax specification language is based on a novel language specification technique called Event Response Systems (ERS) These use the paradigm of specifying responses to events, to handle the problems of specifying concurrent dialogues on a small scale The communications mechanism, called Local Event Broadcast Method (LEBM), is also novel It addresses concurrency on a larger scale and provides communication support via a simple broadcast method To show the effectiveness of these ideas, a prototype UIMS, called Sassafras, has been developed Sassafras has been used to implement a variety of user interfaces, from a very simple keyboard interface, to elaborate direct manipulation interfaces that encourage the use of multiple input devices simultaneously These illustrate important features of Sassafras that are not found in existing UIMSs

Abstract: This is Ben Shneiderman's new textbook to replace his classic Software Psychology from 1980 and as such it has been eagerly awaited - at least by me. Compared with the 1980 book, the 1987 book (actually published in the summer of 1986) is a big step forward: It has a considerably clearer organization and much better coverage of important issues such as interaction styles and manuals. This improvement is in itself a proof that our field has made real progress in this decade. The new book has more of a focus on user interfaces for end users, while the 1980 book (as implied by its name) included much more material on the human factors of the programming process itself.

Abstract: Integral to the design process of the Xerox 8010 “Star” workstation was constant concern for the user interface. The design was driven by principles of human cognition. Prototyping of ideas, paper-and-pencil analyses, and human-factors experiments with potential users all aided in making design decisions. Three of the human-factors experiments are described in this paper: A selection schemes test determined the number of buttons on the mouse pointing device and the meanings of these buttons for doing text selection. An icon test showed us the significant parameters in the shapes of objects on the display screen. A graphics test evaluated the user interface for making line drawings, and resulted in a redesign of that interface.

Abstract: This written report summarizes the discussions an d conclusions of the goals and objectives group at th e ACM/SIGGRAPH Workshop on Software Tools for Use r Interface Development . The report is organized into th e following sections : e Section 1 — Overview of group goals and discussions Section 2 — Definition and characteristics of a UIM S ® Section 3 — Criteria used to develop a taxonomy of a UIM S Section 4 — Tasks and tools fo r user interface developmen t o Section 5 — Suggested topics and areas of research

Abstract: FLEX is a user interface to relational databases that is tolerant of incorrect input. FLEX never rejects a query; instead, it adjusts to the level of technical expertise its users seem to possess (as judged from their input). In particular, FLEX understands formal queries; salvages incorrect queries if they include enough clues on their intended meaning; suggests educated guesees if it recognizes metadata tokens in the input; or else, it issues browsing requests for recognized data tokens. FLEX is also cooperative. It never delivers null results without explanation and assistance. By following up each failed query with a set of more general queries, FLEX determines whether a null result is genuine (it then suggests related queries that have non-null results), or whether it reflects erroneous presuppositions on behalf of the user (it then explains them).

Abstract: KMS is a commercial hypermedia system developed by Knowledge Systems for networks of heterogeneous workstations. It is designed to support organization-wide collaboration for a broad range of applications, such as electronic publishing, software engineering, project management, computer-aided design and on-line documentation. KMS is a successor to the ZOG system developed at Carnegie Mellon University from 1972 to 1985.A KMS database consists of screen-sized WYSIWYG workspaces called frames that contain text, graphics and image items. Single items in frames can be linked to other frames. They may also be used to invoke programs. The database can be distributed across an indefinite number of file servers and be as large as available disk space permits. Independently developed KMS databases can be linked together.The KMS user interface uses an extreme form of direct manipulation. A single browser/editor is used to traverse the database and manipulate its contents. Over 85% of the user's interaction is direct—a single point-and-click designates both object and operation. Running on Sun and Apollo workstations, KMS accesses and displays frames in less than one second, on average.This paper describes KMS and how it addresses a number of hypermedia design issues.

Abstract: Information generated from communications between uses and analysts forms the basis for information systems development and is therefore a major determinant of success. This research investigates the effectiveness of these user/analyst interactions. Tape recordings of user/analyst communications during systems development are used to analyze traditional interaction methods. An alternative "organizational learning" interation methodology is developed based on the Argyris and Schon organizational learning theory. Finally, this new methodology is used by a group of professionals involved in systems projects and again evaluated based on tape recordings of their user/analyst communications. Results show that traditional user/analyst interactions display primarily error-prone characteristics, and that the new interaction methodology successfully generated more valid information with increased detection of errors.

Abstract: User software engineering (USE) is a methodology, supported by automated tools, for the systematic development of interactive information systems. The USE methodology gives particular attention to effective user involvement in the early stages of the software development process, concentrating on external design and the use of rapidly created and modified prototypes of the user interface. The USE methodology is supported by an integrated set of graphically based tools. The USE methodology and the tools that support it are described.

Abstract: When creating highly interactive, direct-manipulation interfaces, one of the most difficult design and implementation tasks is handling the mouse and other input devices. Peridot, a new user interface management system, addresses this problem by allowing the designer of the user interface to demonstrate how the input device should be handled by giving an example of the interface in action. The designer uses sample values for parameters, and the system automatically infers the general operation and creates the code. After an interaction is specified, it can be executed rapid prototyping, since it is very easy to design, implement, and modify mouse-based interfaces. Perudit also supports such additional input devices as touch tablets, as well as multiple input devices operating in parallel (for example, one in each hand) in a natural, easy-to-specify manner. All interaction techniques are implemented using active values, which are like variables except that the objects that depend on active values are updated immediately whenever they change. Active values are a straightforward and efficient mechanism for implementing dynamic interactions.

Abstract: Printed books were an enormous stimulus to science, culture, commerce, and entertainment. Electronic books and hypertext systems may produce a similar stimulus in the next century, but current designs are poor. Typical screens are too small, too slow, too complicated, and too hard to read. With careful attention to the user interface and the underlying technology, we have a chance to create a new medium that is potentially more attractive and effective than printed books in many situations.

Abstract: The issue of exploiting user modeling techniques in the framework of cooperative interfaces to complex artificial systems has recently received increasing attention. In this paper we present the IR-NLI II system, an expert interface that allows casual users to access online information retrieval systems and encompasses user modeling capabilities. More specifically, an illustration of the user modeling subsystem is given by describing the organization of the user model proposed for the particular application area, together with its use during system operation. The techniques utilized for the construction of the model are presented as well. They are based on the use of stereotypes, which are descriptions of typical classes of users. More specifically, they include both declarative and procedural knowledge for describing the features of the class to which the stereotype is related, for assigning a user to that class, and for acquiring and validating the necessary information during system operation.

Abstract: The acquisition of data, the processing of those data for use by the operator, and operator control of remote devices are the fundamental building blocks upon which all modern utility control systems are based The systems to accomplish these functions are known as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems This paper provides an overview of the functions of SCADA and the fundamentals of operation of SCADA systems, including a brief description of the key man-machine interface Several of the key issues and problems in modern SCADA systems, ie, message standards, system performance testing, and system obsolescence are discussed The paper concludes with the current trends toward distributed processing, improved man-machine interface, standard systems, smarter RTUs, and standard software The authors' view of the future, using interchangeable system parts, is provided

Abstract: A menu management system providing application developers a flexible tool for building a consistent user interface. A menu data base is created and edited using a maintenance module. The menu data base is then used by a menu manager (10) to present displays to the user and accept user selections. The system provides for user selections to be indicated by menu picks, programmable function keys, or by typed commands. The menu manager maintains a list of menus that have been presented to the user and provides (24, 26, 28, 36) four ways that the user can back up through these menus. One of these four ways (26) is a command that causes the menu manager to display for the user a list previous menus, allow the user to select one from the list, and back up directly to the selected menu.

Abstract: This paper describes the user interface strategy of Document Examiner, a delivery interface for commercial hypertext documents. Unlike many hypertext interfaces, Document Examiner does not adopt the directed graph as its fundamental user-visible navigation model. Instead it offers context evaluation and content-based searching capabilities that are based on consideration of the strategies that people use in interacting with paper documents.

Abstract: Switch connections in a communication network are represented and displayed to a user, enabling the user to provide switch request signals based on the state of the connections. The representation is presented on the display of a workstation, and the user provides a sequence of switch request signals with the workstation's keyboard and mouse. A control procedure executed by the workstation generates a sequence of switch control signals based on the switch request signals. The switch control signals are provided to a switching server that converts them into commands to a switch that, in turn, switches connections between communication devices, such as cameras, monitors and microphones. These devices are positioned in groups, each group with one of the workstations. The representation may include a separate display feature representing each group, each group's display feature being at a separate location. Connections may be represented by lines between the groups that are connected. The control procedure also provides data so that the representation shows the current connections, including update data when connections are switched. This update data is based on a connection data structure in a shared file accessible by all the workstations on a network. A locking file in the same shared file system prevents interference between switch request signals from different users. A user can modify the switch control signal sequence based on a switch request signal sequence by accessing a signal data structure used by the control procedure to generate the switch control signals.

Abstract: An interactive graphical tool is provided for designing the user interface of a program-controlled instrument. The tool runs on a computer workstation and is used to model the application code of the instrument as a first network in which sessions of user interaction with the application code are represented by respective elements of the network. The actual user interaction sessions themselves are modelled by respective second networks; each second network includes information for defining the interface states of the modelled user interaction session. The full user interface can thereafter be simulated by progressing through the first model until a user interaction element is met and then entering the corresponding second network; the interface state information contained in the second network is used to drive a simulation of the instrument interfaace on the display of the computer workstation. The separation of the modelling of the application code from that of the user interaction sessions facilitates modification of the interface simulation.

Abstract: There are ~eg:N ms:poets of aser~emt,xu{er ~rforma~ce tha~ sys*em designers sh~d sys~emarka{~ ~ e r. This arlic|e prop~yses a ~im~}e m~eL the Neys{T{.>ke-Levd Medea, for predkd~g o,~e aspe~'t M w2rferma:mee: the time i:t takes ,a~ expel u~wr ~;:o perform a givers *az~ m~ a give= eom,p~:{er sys{~a. The model is b.ae~ e~ counting keystrokes :a~d @~er |owdevel operatkms., i:~c{udir~g the user's ~me=taI ~re~aratioas arid the* system's re Pe e is coded fa ~¢~ge~ of ~e~e {~*rati~as an.d epe~a~r Nm¢~ s~:~ Ce Nve Ne~c~i~s,~ HeurNfic n~}es are :gh'ef~ Nr p'redicti~g ~here men~al prelaara~ie~s ¢~ce~r. When tested against{ data ¢m 1|) diffe:re~ systems, ~N~I's pee~ic~ifye e~f N 2t ~reem fee tMividual ~asks.. A= examNe N gia'ee m Rlus{ra{e h(~ NEe m~l .eaa ~ ~aed to pr~dece parametric predie{km.g add brow set~:sifivt{y aaaiysis c:a:a be ~:sexi m redeem ce~e|~.sfo~s in the face of ~mc,e~aia as:sumt~ti~o~:s, Finally, the model ~s e@m~ar~ ~o ~ereral s*mp|er ver,s&ms. "INe N, ter~fiaJ fete ~k~r ~he Keystroke*Level Model i.n gys{em de:skgn is Fhe dcsigs and evaluation of imeracti,~e computer systems sho~ald ~ake imo accnun~ ~he ~o~a! per~brma~bat iss:ues~ oae major cau:se is the ab:>ence of grmance do so~, exist a~ the present @he." Ramsey and A~w~.x>d {/51~ after reviewing the human L~c~ors literature pertb~em to computer sys-tem:s, conclude 1hat while ~here exists eno~gh material ~o develop a qualitative 'human factors design guide," ~here is i.asufficient material ~br a "quantitative reference hand book2' This paper presents one s~scific quanti~aive analysis took a simple model for the time it takes a user ~o perform a task wi~.h a given …

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss certain general features of intelligent user interfaces, such as the sources of knowledge needed by an interface to be considered intelligent, and characteristics desirable in an interface. We illustrate these ideas by examining two examples of interfacing between a user and a system: on-line HELP and tutoring. We conclude by briefly surveying some of the challenges to designers of interfaces.

Abstract: This paper reports results from a paper and pencil study of the use of hand-drawn gestures for simple editing tasks. The use of gesture is of particular interest in an interface which allows the user to write directly on the surface of a display with a stylus. The results of the study provided encouragement for the development of gesture-driven user interfaces. There was very good intra-subject consistency in the spatial form of gestures used for an editing operation, and also, good agreement across subjects in the form selected for a particular operation. Subjects' reactions to the use of gesture indicated that gesture commands were perceived as easy to use and remember. Specific implications for the design gestural interfaces are discussed.

Abstract: The interpretation of aerial photographs requires a lot of knowledge about the scene under consideration. Knowledge about the type of scene: airport, suburban housing development, urban city, aids in low-level and intermediate level image analysis, and will drive high-level interpretation by constraining search for plausible consistent scene models. Collecting and representing large knowledge bases requires specialized tools. In this paper we describe the organization of a set of tools for interactive knowledge acquisition of scene primitives and spatial constraints for interpretation of aerial imagery. These tools include a user interface for interactive knowledge acquisition, the automated compilation of that knowledge from a schema-based representation into productions that are directly executable by our interpretation system, and a performance analysis tool that generates a critique of the final interpretation. Finally, the generality of these tools is demonstrated by the generation of rules for a new task, suburban house scenes, and the analysis of a set of imagery by our interpretation system.

Abstract: When an application requires the involvement of several users, evaluating its functionality and interface becomes more complex: that which benefits one user might not benefit another. An application program written to support cooperative work may present a systematic imbalance in the efforts required of and benefits obtained by different categories of user. Such imbalances may affect the acceptance and use of a product in unforeseen ways. The collective benefit to the group may be difficult to measure, and even if established, may be difficult to communicate effectively to those who do not benefit directly. In weighing a potential development project, decision-makers may be inordinately influenced by the attractiveness of the system to managers such as themselves, and not perceive that the requisite cooperation of other users of the application will not be forthcoming when those users do not benefit equally. In the absence of careful analysis, decisions to build unworkable systems are not only possible, but likely. These points are elaborated through the examination of several multi-user application areas in the context of evolving technology trends, organizational practices, and social tendencies.

Abstract: This is the second part of a report which looks at expert systems and the man-machine interface (mmi). The term ‘mmi’ is interpreted in a fairly broad sense to include knowledge acquisition and cognitive aspects of the user interface. Part One of the report (published in the previous issue of Expert Systems) examines what is currently happening in the area of knowledge acquisition in Britain and asks whether it really is the major bottleneck in the production of expert systems. Part Two of the report looks at cognitive aspects of the user interface, including dialogue control, explanation facilities, user models, natural language processing and the effects of new technology. It also considers the very important question of evaluation. Again the report is concerned with what is actually happening in these areas in Britain today.