David Benyon

Adaptive systems: from intelligent tutoring to autonomous agents

Abstract Computer systems which can automatically alter aspects of their functionality or interface to suit the needs of individuals or groups of users have appeared over the years in a variety of guises. Most recently, attention has focused on intelligent interface agents, which are seen as specialised, knowledge-based systems acting on behalf of the user in some aspect of the interaction. Similar requirements for automatic adaptation have been noted in intelligent tutoring systems, natural-language systems and intelligent interfaces. The paper brings together the research which has emanated from a number of backgrounds, and provides a unifying perspective on adaptive systems in general. An architecture for adaptive systems and a methodology for their development are presented. The paper also describes software support for producing adaptive systems, and offers some experimental evidence to justify both the desirability and feasibility of exploiting an adaptive system approach to human-computer interaction

Adaptive systems: A solution to usability problems

Improving the usability of computer systems is perhaps the most important goal of human-computer interaction research. Current approaches to usability engineering tend to focus on simply improving the interface. An alternative is to build intelligence into the system. However, in order to do this a more comprehensive analysis is required and systems must be designed so that they can be made adaptive. This paper examines the implications for systems analysis, design and usability specification if adaptive systems are to be a realistic solution to usability problems.

Applying user modeling to human-computer interaction design

Since the early 1980s, intelligent and adaptive systems have appeared and have been written about in a variety of guises. Although there are many differences between such systems as adaptive user interfaces, intelligent help systems and explanation systems, there are many similarities as well. The most notable of these is that they all require user models to be maintained and exploited as part of their designs. Furthermore, they share the same high level architecture. This paper discusses the use of models in human-computer interaction design and offers a common architecture for these adaptive systems. A methodology for the development of these systems is presented.

Navigation in Information Spaces: supporting the individual

The issue of how users can navigate their way through large information spaces is one that is crucial to the ever expanding and interlinking of computer systems. There are many ways of dealing with the issue cf navigation. The use of appropriate metaphors is one, virtual reality and 3D interfaces another. A third is to provide adaptive interfaces based on individual differences in users navigational ability. This paper takes a critical look at the alternatives for assisting users to navigate information spaces and concludes by outlining a research agenda for navigation support.

The skull beneath the skin: entity-relationship models of information artifacts

Abstract Data modelling reveals the internal structure of an information system, abstracting away from details of the physical representation. We show that entity-relationship modelling, a well-tried example of a data-modelling technique, can be applied to both interactive and noninteractive information artifacts in the domain of HCI. By extending the conventional ER notation slightly (to give ERMIA, Entity-Relationship Modelling for Information Artifacts) it can be used to describe differences between different representations of the same information, differences between users conceptual models of the same device, and the structure and update requirements of distributed information in a worksystem. It also yields symbolic-level estimates of Card, Pirolli and Mackinlays index of “cost-of-knowledge” in an information structure, plus a novel index, the “cost-of-update”; these symbolic estimates offer a useful complement to the highly detailed analyses of time costs obtainable from GOMS-like models. We conclude that, as a cheap, coarse-grained, and easy-to-learn modelling technique, ERMIA usefully fills a gap in the range of available HCI analysis techniques.

Experience with developing multimedia courseware for the World Wide Web

The phenomenal growth of the Internet over the last few years, coupled with the development of various multimedia applications which exploit the Internet presents exciting opportunities for educators. In the context of distance education, the World Wide Web provides a unique challenge as a new delivery mechanism for course material allowing students to take a course (potentially) from anywhere in the world. In this paper, we describe our approach to the development of an Internet-based course designed for distance education. Using this experience, we provide general observations on the opportunities and constraints which the web provides and on the pedagogic issues which arise when using this delivery mechanism.We have found that the process of developing web-based courses is one area which requires careful consideration as technologies and tools for both the authoring and the delivery of courses are evolving so rapidly. We have also found that current tools are severely lacking in a number of important respects?particularly with respect to the design of pedagogically sound courseware.

Developing adaptive systems to fit individual aptitudes

ABSTRACT We focus on designing systems which can adapt to individual differences in personality and cognitive style. To do so, we need to identify individual cognitive tind personality characteristics, validate them and discover appropriate design solutions to deal with such differences. These factors are long-term and relatively stable individual aptitudes and therefore arc difficult for humans to change. We believe that it is exactly these sort of differences with which adaptive systems should conccm themselves. We describe how we have approached identification of these characteristics and dcscribc how they were incorporated in an operational, though functionally quite simple system.

The role of task analysis in systems design

Abstract Task analysis and systems analysis are both collections of techniques aimed at the development of interactive computer-based systems. Clearly there must be some relationship between them. However, since the techniques originate from different disciplines, practitioners in one area are not always clear about what has gone before in the other area. The paper addresses this problem. Task analysis clearly has an important role to play in various aspects of systems development. However it may also introduce bad practices which can be avoided if lessons are learnt from the experiences of systems analysis over the last two decades. An understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of systems analysis techniques enables the proper role of task analysis to be understood.

Scenarios and the HCI-SE design problem

Abstract Diapers critical review of Carrols book ‘Making Use’ raises a number of interesting issues about how to set about the design of interactive systems. In particular Diaper poses an issue that has long dogged the area of Human–Computer Interaction and Software Engineering (HCI-SE), namely how to deal with the formality required by the SE side and the sensitivity to context required by the HCI side. In this paper, we report on the experience of using scenario-based design and reflect on the effectiveness of the approach. This work fits into a broader context concerned with understanding exactly what the HCI-SE design problem is and now it might be best conceptualised.

Footprints in the Snow

There are many changes happening in the world of computers and communication media. The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW), of course, are various aspects of this vast network of interlinked machines. Computers are becoming increasingly ubiquitous; they are “disappearing” into everyday objects. They are becoming increasingly small, so much so that some are now wearable. They are increasingly able to communicate with each other.