A model-based approach for distributed user interfaces

This paper describes a model-based approach for designing distributed user interfaces (DUIs), i.e. graphical user interfaces that are distributed along one or many of the following dimensions: end user, display device, computing platform, and physical environment. The three pillars of this model-based approach are: (i) a Concrete User Interface model for DUIs incorporating the distribution dimensions and able to express in a XML-compliant format any DUI element until the granularity of an individual DUI element is reached, (ii) a specification language for DUI distribution primitives that have been defined in a user interface toolkit, and (iii), a step-wise method for modeling a DUI based on the concepts of distribution graph expressing a distribution scenario that can be played namely based on the distribution primitives. A distribution graph consists of a state-transition diagram whose states represent significant distribution states of a DUI and whose transitions are labeled by an ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: EICS
• Authors: Jérémie Melchior, Jean Vanderdonckt, Peter Van Roy
• Keywords: Applied Computing, Computer Communication Networks, EICS 2011, State Transition Diagram, User Interface Model