Improving modularity and usability of interactive systems with Malai

In this paper we present Malai, a model-based user interface development environment. Malai is dedicated to the conception of post-WIMP (Window, Icon, Menu, Pointing device) interactive systems. Malai aims at gathering together principles from Norman's action model [19], instrumental interaction [3], direct manipulation [25], the interactor concept [17] and the DPI model (Documents, Presentations, Instruments) [4]. It completes works on data manipulation techniques used to link source data to user interfaces. We show how Malai can improve modularity and usability of interactive systems by considering actions, interactions and instruments as reusable first-class objects. Malai has been successfully used for the development of several postWIMP interactive systems. We introduce each Malai component using the same example: a vector graphics editor. Keywords Interaction, action, user interface, instrument, interactive system, MDE

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: EICS
• Authors: Arnaud Blouin, Olivier Beaudoux
• Keywords: Applied Computing, EICS 2010, Interactive System, Malai, User Interface