Distributed User Interfaces:How to Distribute User Interface Elements across Users, Platforms, and EnvironmentsJean VanderdoncktLouvainInteractionLabUniversitécatholique de LouvainJean.Vanderdonckt@uclouvain.be
What is the situation today?One user performing one task on one domain in one context of useThe predominantparadigm: single…
Monitor, device
Computingplatform
User
Environment
Context of use
Domain and taskonemany2
IntroductionDUI = Distributed User Interface acrossMultiple Users: single user stereotypes vs. multiple stereotypesMultiple computingPlatforms: single platform vs. multiple platformsSimultaneouslyAsynchronouslyMultiple surroundingEnvironments(physical): same place vs. multiple placesProblem to beaddressed: the design and the development of DUIswhiletakingintoaccountAspects that are common to various distributionsAspects that are specific to some distributionsToday, thereis an ontological confusion in the various distributions possibleThe State of the Art islargelyinconsistentIt isdifficult to compare relatedwork
One dimension at a timeThe predominantparadigm: single…
Monitor, device
Computingplatform
User
Environment
Context of use
Domain and taskonemany4
Multi-monitor/deviceWhytake care of multiple monitors?DevicesideMonitor surface isincreasing, whilepriceisdecreasingUser sideUsersprefer more display surfaceUser’sproductivityincreasesfrom 10% to 30% (althoughsomeusabilityproblems are raised)[Harris,2002]
Multi-monitor/deviceWhytake care of multiple monitors?User side[Harris,2002]
Multi-monitor/deviceWhytake care of multiple monitors?Effects of Display Size on Task Times160140120100SmallAverage Task Time (Seconds)80Large6040200DISPLAY[Czerwinsky,2005]
Multi-monitor/deviceWhytake care of multiple monitors?The tasks were easy to perform543Average Rating (1=Disagree, 5=Agree)210SmallLargeDisplay Size[Czerwinsky,2005]
Multi-monitor/deviceWhytake care of multiple monitors?[Czerwinsky,2005]
Multi-monitor/deviceDistribution of UIsacrossmonitors (hardware)Coupling different monitors to the same workstation
Multi-monitor/device Hard wired, manual solution
 Opportunistic
 Lack of reusabilityDistribution of UIsacrossmonitors (hardware)Coupling different monitors to the same workstation
Multi-monitor/deviceDistribution of UIsacrossmonitors (software)Partitioning of a window across several screens to obtain a DUI
Multi-monitor/deviceExtending a Desktop with another Monitor[Demeure et al.,2004]
The 4C Framework for DUIsC1 (Computation) represents the computation of a DUI, i.e. what are the elements to be distributed during the operationC2 (Communication) represents the dimension of distribution time, i.e. when are the elements of an interactive system distributedC3 (Coordination) represents the dimension of distribution responsibility, i.e. who is distributing the interactive systemDetection, computation, selection, execution => ISATINE framework[Lopez2006]C4 (Configuration) represents where a UI is distributed. It therefore poses the problem of how to distribute itConserving physical pixelsConserving logical pixelsConserving semantic pixels[Demeure et al.,2004]
Dimensions of the 4CC4 (Configuration) represents where a UI is distributed. It therefore poses the problem of how to distribute it by conservingPhysical pixelsLogical pixelsSemantic pixels[Demeure et al.,2004]
One dimension at a timeThe predominant paradigm: single…Monitor, deviceComputing platformUserEnvironmentContext of useDomain and taskonemany16
Multi-platform(Amount of interactive systems)(Amount of end users)10 to 50 systemsfor 1 user10000500002 or 3 systemsfor 1 user1 system for 1 user100050001005001 system for 100 users1050197019801990200020102020Source: ForresterResearch, 2002Source: M. Weiser
Multi-platform[Pierce et al.,2004]
Multi-platformProblem: how to design a UI thattakes care of multiple computingplatforms?Some solutions:DistriXML = software architecture for distributingUIsfrom one computingplatform to anotheratrun-time [Grolaux et al., 2005]MigriXML = software architecture for migratingUisfrom one platform to anotheratrun-time with adaptation [Molina et al., 2006]
The Painter’s Palette+=
Digital Painter’s Palette
Useful area is wasted !
Multi-platformProblem: how to design a UI thattakes care of multiple computingplatforms?PaintingPencilPaintingtoolPalette[Grolaux & Vanderdonckt,2005]
Multi-platform[Grolaux & Vanderdonckt,2005]
Multi-platform
Example using a Pocket PC
Multi-platform
Multi-platformDEMIPLAT Principle for migration: Detach
Multi-platformDEMIPLAT Principle for migration: Detach - Migrate
Multi-platformDEMIPLAT Principle for migration: Detach - Migrate - Plastify
Multi-platformDEMIPLAT Principle for migration: Detach - Migrate - Plastify - Attach
Multi-platformThis is not a floating barProcess
Computer BComputer AProcessMulti-platformProcess
MigriXML architectureInteractive system architectureGUI applicationArch meta-model or ‘Slinky’ meta-modelPlatformLayered structure[Molina, Vanderdonckt, Gonzalez, 2006]
Case studyThe user’s environment is a small office, with five different platforms
Case studyTwo different user interfaces
Case study1234Migrating from one laptop to the otherAspire 200015”, 16:10 1280x800PT-LB10SU4:3 800x600Latitude15”, 4:3 1024x768

Distributed User Interfaces: How to Distribute User Interface Elements across Users, Platforms, and Environments