Abstract: The authors have created an object-oriented scripting interface to a mature density functional theory code. The interface gives users a high-level, flexible handle on the code without rewriting the underlying number-crunching code. The authors also discuss the design issues and advantages of homogeneous interfaces.

Abstract: A facility for improving for performance of an initial user interface for a client-server application is described. The facility selects a proper subset of the user interface elements of the initial user interface. For each selected element, the facility generates a more efficient replacement for the selected element. The facility then generates a revised user interface that includes the unselected elements of the initial user interface, together with the generated replacements for the selected elements of the initial user interface.

Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users of computing devices to interact with graphical user interfaces are described. According to one aspect, a rotational user action supplied by a user at a user input device is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. According to another aspect, a portion of an extended list of items is displayed by a graphical user interface and, through rotational user actions at a user input device, the portion of the list being displayed can be varied with welcomed ease of use. Although the type of computing device can vary, the improved approaches are particularly well-suited for use with a portable media player.

Abstract: Ecological interface design (EID) is a theoretical framework for designing human-computer interfaces for complex sociotechnical systems. Its primary aim is to support knowledge workers in adapting to change and novelty. This literature review shows that in situations requiring problem solving, EID improves performance when compared with current design approaches in industry. EID has been applied to industry-scale problems in a broad variety of application domains (e.g., process control, aviation, computer network management, software engineering, medicine, command and control, and information retrieval) and has consistently led to the identification of new information requirements. An experimental evaluation of EID using a full-fidelity simulator with professional workers has yet to be conducted, although some are planned. Several significant challenges remain as obstacles to the confident use of EID in industry. Promising paths for addressing these outstanding issues are identified. Actual or potential applications of this research include improving the safety and productivity of complex sociotechnical systems.

Abstract: While task modeling and task-based design are entering into current practice in the design of interactive software applications, there is still a lack of tools supporting the development and analysis of task models. Such tools should provide developers with ways to represent tasks, including their attributes and objects and their temporal and semantic relationships, to easily create, analyze, and modify such representations and to simulate their dynamic behavior. In this paper, we present a tool, CTTE, that provides thorough support for developing and analyzing task models of cooperative applications, which can then be used to improve the design and evaluation of interactive software applications. We discuss how we have designed this environment and report on trials of its use.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a preferred embodiment, a command center or hub of a network system includes a context and connection permutation sensitive control system that enables centralized and seamless integrated control of all types of input devices. The control system preferably includes a versatile icon based graphical user interface that provides a uniform, on-screen centralized control system for the network system. The user interface, which includes a visual recognition system, enables the user to transparently control multiple input devices over a variety of protocols while operating on a single control layer of an input command device. In an alternative embodiment, the control system also enables gated signal pass-through control while avoiding signal jamming.

Abstract: A global speech user interface (GSUI) comprises an input system to receive a user's spoken command, a feedback system along with a set of feedback overlays to give the user information on the progress of his spoken requests, a set of visual cues on the television screen to help the user understand what he can say, a help system, and a model for navigation among applications. The interface is extensible to make it easy to add new applications.

Abstract: A method for providing e-mail communication is provided in which an e-mail user interface is generated on a display device (4000). The e-mail user interface implements e-mail messaging for a root e-mail address that includes a domain name and a username. Upon receiving a request from a user, the method generates a first suffix e-mail address, and creates a first directory on the e-mail user interface for the first suffix e-mail address. The first suffix e-mail address includes the domain name, the username, and a first suffix name. Upon receiving an e-mail message having a destination address including the domain name and the username, the method stores the e-mail message in the first directory if the destination address includes the first suffix. In accordance with further aspects of this embodiment, a plurality of suffix e-mail addresses can be created, each having a corresponding directory on the e-mail user interface.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing the performance of a data processing system, particularly a distributed data processing system, provide a system user with tools for analyzing an application running thereon. Information about the flow and performance of the application can be specified, captured, and analyzed, without modifying it or degrading its performance or data security characteristics, even if it is distributed across multiple machines. The user interface permits the system user to filter the performance information, to set triggers which the performance analyzer is able to reduce and/or combine, to observe multiple time-synchronized displays of performance data either in real time or post mortem, and to play and re-play the operation of an automatically generated application model. The invention is implemented in part by providing suitable Application Program Interfaces (APIs) in the operating system of the data processing system.

Abstract: The context sensitive web services method enables a mobile phone or wireless device to use context inference techniques to sense the user's environment and in response, to provide useful information to the user that is appropriate to the user's perceived environment. The method includes the steps of receiving sensor signals characterizing a current environment of the wireless device; processing the sensor signals with a context inference engine; outputting a current context result from the processing by context inference engine; and providing useful information to the user in response to the current context result. A further aspect of the method provides user control of access by application programs to the user's private data, including private data in a server. Still further, this can also include providing user control of access by application programs in a web server, to the user's private data. Another aspect of the method is providing the current context result to an application program in response to the user control and receiving the useful information from the application program. The invention enables the user to grant access permission to the application program to access the current context result. This can be performed in the user's wireless device or in the network server. The network server can carry out the control of access by application programs in web servers, in response to a user privacy profile received from the user's wireless device.

Abstract: Described is a schema-based notification platform that provides regularized notification handling including user control and normalization of the operation of policies across different information types and contexts. Information-service schemas and services are combined to build a content-sensitive and context-sensitive information service to communicate information to recipient devices of users that subscribe to those services. An information agent service collects the information, and based on various criteria, determines if, when, and how to send and render the information, and to which subscribing client device or devices. The set of schemas include a notification schema that represents the subscription of a service to an information source and details about that information, and a device schema that represents information about user devices. The information agent service accesses criteria including user preferences and user contextual information, including presence information, location information, and schedule information along with people and groups data and extended-context data. Preferences about subscriptions and information handling policies may be stored and used at notification sources or in more central preference encodings. Access to multiple preferences is maintained, and a user interface is provided that allows users to inspect and control multiple subscriptions in one conceptual place.

Abstract: In this post, we will take a look at some of the essential laws of user interface design Action – The next thing you need to do is make sure you guide the user. Download The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd Edition as an ebook for a limited time! UX Design refers to the term User Experience Design, while UI Design stands for User Interface Design. Both are essential for the product's success.”.

Abstract: A media browsing system prepares various media content and synchronizes the content with a media player for playback. A user can specify the content and preconfigure the manner in which the content will be subsequently accessible through a common user interface on the media player. A variety of media players having configurable, common user interfaces promote a consistent media browsing experience across media players for users accessing a variety of preconfigured media content.

Abstract: A scaleable graphical user interface system utilizes a device platform independent model to provide dynamic layout of graphical user interface widgets migrated between any of a plurality of heterogeneous device platforms. The device platform independent model includes at least one platform independent graphical user interface widget. Based on the device platform independent model, platform specific graphical user interface widgets that correspond to each of the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be laid out on a page and compared to the size of a display screen of a heterogeneous device platform. Where the page does not fit within the display screen, the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be dynamically rearranged within the page to fit the display screen. In addition, where designated as splitable, the platform independent graphical user interface widgets may be split among multiple pages of a presentation to fit within the display screen.

Abstract: The literature on information visualization establishes the usability of interfaces with an overview of the information space, but for zoomable user interfaces, results are mixed. We compare zoomable user interfaces with and without an overview to understand the navigation patterns and usability of these interfaces. Thirty-two subjects solved navigation and browsing tasks on two maps. We found no difference between interfaces in subjects' ability to solve tasks correctly. Eighty percent of the subjects preferred the interface with an overview, stating that it supported navigation and helped keep track of their position on the map. However, subjects were faster with the interface without an overview when using one of the two maps. We conjecture that this difference was due to the organization of that map in multiple levels, which rendered the overview unnecessary by providing richer navigation cues through semantic zooming. The combination of that map and the interface without an overview also improved subjects' recall of objects on the map. Subjects who switched between the overview and the detail windows used more time, suggesting that integration of overview and detail windows adds complexity and requires additional mental and motor effort.

Abstract: A method for viewing communications events on a mobile device which includes a user interface, a communications event handler, and a communications event database is disclosed herein.The communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history associated with the correspondent of an incoming communications event. Additionally the communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history for a specified correspondent. When a communication event is received, the communication events history associated with the correspondent is presented on the user interface. This gives the advantage that the user of the mobile device is able to determine the context of the communicaion event.

Abstract: Praxis Critical Systems recently developed a secure certification authority for smart cards that had to satisfy performance and usability requirements while meeting stringent security constraints. The authors used a systematic process from requirements elicitation through formal specification, user interface prototyping, rigorous design, and coding to ensure these objectives' achievement. They show how a process that achieves normal commercial productivity can deliver a highly reliable system that meets all its throughput and usability goals.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: A dynamic voice user interface system is provided. The dynamic voice user interface system interacts with a user at a first level of formality. The voice user interface system then monitors history of user interaction and adjusts the voice user interface to interact with the user with a second level of formality based on the history of user interaction.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a control system. The control system may be adapted to control one or more lighting systems (e.g. stand-alone or networked lighting systems). The control system may also have a user interface (e.g. dial or button) such that a user can make a program selection and/or alter a lighting control feature. The control system may also include an enablement system. In an embodiment, the enablement system may be arranged to provide a user and/or installer with the ability to enable a program, program setting or the like. For example, the control system may be programmed with three lighting control programs and the user may only want to select from two of the three programs once the control system is installed. The user may make a selection on the enablement system such that only the two desired programs are available from through the user interface.

Abstract: In this paper we describe a prototype spatial audio user interface for a Global Positioning System (GPS). The interface is designed to allow mobile users to carry out location tasks while their eyes, hands or attention are otherwise engaged. Audio user interfaces for GPS have typically been designed to meet the needs of visually impaired users, and generally, though not exclusively, employ speech-audio. In contrast, our prototype system uses a simple form of non-speech, spatial audio. This paper analyses various candidate audio mappings for location and distance information. A variety of tasks, design considerations, design trade-offs and opportunities are considered. The findings from pilot empirical testing are reported. Finally, opportunities for improvements to the system and for future evaluation are explored.

Abstract: A communications system (100) to post arbitrary information to any geographical region simply by outlining the region on a map in the system's user interface (117) and attaching the information to the outlined region is provided. The outlined region can be of any size, e.g., a city block, a neighborhood, a county, and defines the information's 'region of relevance'. Any user of the system can also browse and receive these geographically relevant postings simply by identifying a point or region of interest on one of the system's maps (121). Uses of the system range from personal communication of questions and announcements to a geographically identified group, to governmental and commercial news and announcements aimed at a particular population, to 'virtual billboards' for advertising.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for specifying and/or assigning one or more addresses in a lighting system. In one example, a user interface is coupled to a programming device that is adapted to provide one or more selected addresses to a programmable lighting system, based on user input via the user interface. The system is also adapted to store the one or more selected addresses in memory.

Abstract: A programmable and expandable building automation and control system (10)includes a system platform supports interchangeable smart card (12), security card (22), power supply card (24), telephone/voice/modem card (26), HVAC relay control (62), auxiliary relay control (66), power (80), telephone interface (30), sensor analog inputs (32), smoke detector interface (54), siren/strobe output (80), tamper loop (52), protected peripheral power supply (72), switched peripheral power supply (74), PLC communication protocol interface (18), RS 232 communication interface (14), RS 485 communication interface (16), touchscreen user interface (28), and 'smart' key interface (34) via 'smart' key (104). In addition to touchscreen and smart key interface, user-interface with system (10) is accommodated via telephone, personal computer or personal digital assistant, or through infrared or radio frequency transmission.

Abstract: A method for dynamically generating a graphical user interface (GUI) from XML-based documents. In accordance with the method, visual components or display objects for building a GUI are defined, as well as a layout hierarchy describing layout relationships between the display objects, specifying how related display objects are to be laid out relative to each other on a layout window in the GUI. XML elements in an XML document pertaining to respective display objects are identified. A GUI is generated by rendering the identified display objects on the layout window, wherein the size and the position of each display object is based on layout rules defined by the layout hierarchy and a hierarchical position of the XML element pertaining to the display object within a hierarchy of XML elements of the XML document. The appearance of display objects in the GUI may also be altered through the use layout descriptors.