Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Eurographics ((EUROGRAPH))

Abstract

The paper discusses the formalisation of some intuitions which underlie the task based design of user interfaces. Some aspects of user task knowledge are modelled formally and the user interface is represented using a formal interactor model. A conceptual framework is introduced which relates the two representations and helps formalise their relationship as a conformance relationship. The discussion gives rise to a practical scheme for verifying and testing user interfaces and their specifications with respect to task models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abowd GD, Coutaz J & Nigay L (1992) Structuring the Space of Interactive system Properties, In Larson J & Unger C (Eds.) Engineering for Human Computer Interaction, Proc. IFIP TC2/WG2.7 working conference, Elsevier (North-Holland), pp. 113 – 129.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barnard PJ & Harrison MD (1992) Towards a Framework for Modelling Human-Computer Interactions. In Gornostaev J (Ed.) Proc. East-West International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction EWHCI’92, St. Petersburg, Russia, ICSTI(Moscow), pp. 189 – 197.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brinksma E (1989) A theory for the derivation of tests. In van Eijk PHJ, Vissers CA & Diaz M (Eds.) The Formal Description Technique Lotos, Elsevier (North-Holland), pp. 235 – 247.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Caneve M & Salvatori E (1992) LITE user manual. LOTOSPHERE Project Technical Report, Lo/WP2/N0034/Vo8.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Duke DJ & Harrison MD (1993) Abstract Interaction Objects, in Hubbold RJ & Juan R (Eds.) EUROGRAPHICS’93, Computer Graphics Forum, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 26 – 36.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Faconti GP & Duke DJ (1996) Device Models. In Bodart F & Vanderdonckt J (Eds.) Interactive Systems ’96, Proc. DSV-IS ’96, Springer (Wien), pp. 73 – 91.

    Google Scholar 

  7. ISO (1989) Information Processing Systems - Open Systems Interconnection - LOTOS - A Formal Description Technique based on the Temporal Ordering of Observational Behaviour, ISO/IEC 8807, International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson H & Johnson P (1991) Task knowledge structures: Psychological basis and integration into systems design. Acta Psychologica, Vol. 78, pp. 3 – 26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Johnson P, Wilson S, Markopoulos P & Pycock J (1993) ADEPT - Advanced design environment for prototyping with task models, Demonstration abstract. In Aschlund S et al. (Eds.) Bridges Between Worlds - INTERCHI ’93, Addison-Wesley, pp. 56.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lim KY & Long J (1994) The MUSE method for usability engineering. Cambridge University Press, Glasgow.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Markopoulos P, Wilson S & Johnson P (1994) Representation and Use of Task Knowledge in a User Interface Design Environment. IEE Proceedings~E, Computers and Digital Techniques, Vol. 141, No. 2, pp. 79 - 84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Markopoulos P (1997) A compositional model for the formal specification of user interfaces. PhD Thesis, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, March 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Milner R (1989) Communication and Concurrency. Prentice Hall, UK.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Monk A, Wright P, Haber J & Davenport (1993) Improving your human computer interface: a practical technique. Prentice-Hall (Hemel-Hempstead).

    Google Scholar 

  15. De Nicola R (1989) Extensional equivalences for transition systems, Acta Informatica, Vol. 24, 211 – 237.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Palanque P, Paternó F, Bastide R & Mezzanotte M (1996) Towards an integrated proposal for interactive systems design based in TLIM and ICO. In Bodart F & Vanderdonckt J (Eds.) Interactive Systems ’96, Proc. DSV-IS ’96, Springer (Wien), pp. 162 – 187.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Palanque P & Bastide R (1996) A design life-cylce for the formal design of user interface. In Roast C & Siddiqi J (Eds.) Formal Aspects of the Human Computer Interface, BCS-FACS workshop, Springer, eWiC series.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Paterno F & Faconti G (1992) On the use of LOTOS to describe graphical interaction. In Monk A, Diaper D & Harrison MD, People and Computers VII, Proc. HCF92, Cambridge University Press, pp. 155 – 173.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Paterno F (1993) A formal approach to the evaluation of interactive systems. SIGCHI Bulletin, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 69 –73.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pavon S & Larrabeiti D (1993) LOLA (LOtos LAboratory) User Manual v.3.4, http://www.dcs.upm.es/~lotos.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Whiteside J, Bennet J & Holtzblatt J (1988) Usability Engineering: Our experience and evolution. In Helander M (Ed.) Handbook of Human Computer Interaction, Elsevier (North-Holland), pp. 791 – 817.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wilson S & Johnson P (1996) Bridging the generation gap: From work tasks to user interface designs. In Vanderdonckt J (Ed.) 2nd International Workshop on Computer-Aided Design of User Interfaces, CADUI’96, Presses Universitaires de Namur, pp. 77 – 94.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer-Verlag/Wien

About this paper

Cite this paper

Markopoulos, P., Johnson, P., Rowson, J. (1997). Formal aspects of task based design. In: Harrison, M.D., Torres, J.C. (eds) Design, Specification and Verification of Interactive Systems ’97. Eurographics. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6878-3_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6878-3_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-83055-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6878-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics