John Martin Mullaly

Developing software using OVID

Object View Interaction Design is a structured design methodology that helps the design team create a good, object-based user interface design. Because OVID uses a structured process and appropriate tools, the design progresses more quickly with fewer cycles of iteration.

IBM RealThings

In this demonstration we present IBM RealThing?, experimental user interface objects modeled on familiar real-world objects. Traditional computer-based mechanisms are removed and replaced by controls that are theoretically more natural and intuitive, allowing users to focus more on their tasks and less on computer artifacts.[ l] Presented are several objects designed within the theoretical framework of RealThings, demonstrating innovative aspects of design at many levels, such as: the underlying object model, the object-view structure, interaction design, and visualization issues such as stylization and use of metaphor. Also demonstrated is the robust applicability of these designs to various user environments, such as the desktop, web browser, webtop, or 3D environments.

User Interface Design with OVID

Object-oriented (OO) code design methodologies such as Booch, Schlaer-Mellor, Rumbaugh, and OMT have become very popular and have proven effective tools for software development. User interface design, on the other hand, is often done without a formal methodology. Ad hoc approaches typically produce designs which are incomplete, do not fully meet user requirements, and are not in a form which is easy for the programming team to translate into code. Object, View, and Interaction Design (OVID) addresses the needs to improve the quality and efficiency of user interface design. We apply many of the tools and techniques used in OO code design to the domain of user interface design. OVID brings rigor to the interface design process and produces output which feeds directly into code design. In this paper, we describe the OVID methodology and show examples of how it could be applied to designing an IT system to provide desktop and network support services to small businesses. The other methodologies discussed in the panel session will use the same design exercise for comparative purposes.