Adamantios Koumpis

Decision making in intelligent user interfaces

Intelligent user interfaces are characterised by their capability to adapt at run-time and make several communication decisions concerning ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ to communicate, through a certain adaptation strategy. In this paper, we present a methodological approach to assist this decision making process, which is btyed on a clear separation of the important attributes that characterise the adaptation strategy, namely the adaptation determinants, constituents, goals and rules. Based on this separation, we also present a methodological approach for the formulation of adaptation rules, which utilises techniques from the domain of multiple criteria decision making. It is argued that, following the proposed approach, the adaptation strategy can be easily customised to the requirements of different application domains and user groups, and can be re-used with minor modifications in different applications. As a result, developers of intelligent user interfaces can be significantly assisted, and users can be empowered to exploit the benefits of intelligent interfaces.

Adaptation in IMMPS as a decision making process

Intelligent Multimedia Presentation Systems (IMMPS) are characterised by their capability to dynamically adapt at run-time, based on the state of several aspects of user-computer interaction, such as the user profile, task and information characteristics, etc. In this paper, we treat adaptation as a decision making process, and propose the employment of established techniques from the domain of Decision Making to assist this process. It is argued that, following this approach, the adaptation process can be easily modified, customised and re-used in different application domains and for different user interaction requirements. The designer is enabled to incorporate different design strategies, which can be dynamically and automatically modified, according to the run-time requirements of the system. The application of the proposed approach is exemplified in the media/modalities allocation process.

Modeling decisions in intelligent user interfaces

In this paper, we are concerned with the run‐time communication decisions which need to be made by an intelligent user interface. We model communication decisions as a decision‐making process, where a selection among a set of alternative constituents is needed, in order to satisfy specific design goals. Based on techniques from the domains of multiple‐criteria decision making and decision making under doubt, we propose the use of a model which takes into account the significance of each constituent toward the satisfaction of each design goal, as well as the consideration of the decision maker (interface designer) regarding the significance of each design goal. Following the proposed approach, a design strategy can be represented by a design vector, and thus, we can define properties of, and relationships between, different design strategies, based on their respective vectors. A specific example deploying the proposed model is presented, based on data from the relevant literature.

Adaptations of the text media type: addressing the user's perspective

Multimedia user interfaces provide augmented interaction opportunities for the population at large to access and utilise interactive applications effectively and efficiently. Many efforts towards the development of multimedia user interfaces, however, can be characterised as technology-driven, thus not adequately supporting the exploitation of this technology by a wide range of users. In this paper, we address the development of multimedia user interfaces from a user perspective. In particular, we consider the use of the text media type and present possible adaptations of it, with respect to the particular needs, abilities and preferences of diverse user categories, including disabled people.

Scenario based specification of interaction metaphors

Abstract A scenario-based formal specification of interaction metaphors is proposed, which assists designers to develop interaction dialogues at a high-level of abstraction. A formalism has been developed which provides means for describing both application and metaphor semantics, as well as a descriptive model for the specification of interaction scenarios. The proposed approach has been applied for the construction of application scenarios in the domain of special education (i.e. supporting students with learning difficulties), so that different user interaction requirements and cognitive abilities are addressed.

Use of the Curiosity Cabinet metaphor to support inclusive learning

Our idea relates to the combination of emerging HCI technologies such as Virtual and Mixed Reality and an innovative Question and Answering (Q&A) system with already existing concepts of spatial learning and inquiry-based learning in education in order to evolve them to answer the needs of modern education. In the project we use the concept of the curiosity cabinet as our core learning enabling metaphor. To enable the creation of learning experiences we are combining the curiosity cabinet metaphor with a set of artefacts (real of virtual objects) so that educators can set the stage for the learning experience. Moreover, we also facilitate learners to design and create their learning spaces by accessing the artefacts collection and selecting items they find appropriate to include in their spaces attaching additional information related to the respective learning experience. Therefore, learning spaces created during a learning experience support both highly individualized curiosity cabinets as well a shared space to co-design, co-create and share the learning artefacts. This supports both the personalized learning spaces for the individual learning to develop agency of learning, as well as collaborative group learning spaces. These personalized and collaborative learning spaces evolve over time to reflect changes in the learning and development and, habits and needs of each particular learner or group of learners.

Employing Queuing and Modeling in Intelligent Multimedia User Interfaces

This article investigates the application of queuing modeling in intelligent multimedia user interfaces (IMUIs). We propose that queuing modeling constitutes an effective means for providing at runtime, assessment information concerning user-computer interaction (UCI) and can thus contribute to runtime adaptation. We present specific queuing systems that model the load posed to the users sensory channels in IMUIs under different assumptions, and indicative (media-and-modalities allocation) adaptation policies that build on this modeling are exemplified. This article also outlines the implementation of an assessment software module that uses the proposed queuing modeling framework and its subsequent integration into an existing IMUI (in which it is used for the assignment of information to output modalities); both activities were undertaken to practically demonstrate that queuing modeling can be effectively used in IMUIs.