Graphical User Interfaces in Java

Abstract

Graphical user interfaces can be thought of as information cities (Dieberger and Tromp ). In such an environment users may seek to complete a given task in which they are in essence travellers moving towards a given destination. This paper will focus on the spatial aspects of GUIs and how support for navigation already exists or can be built in. The aim being to support as quickly as possible the users move from route to survey knowledge and wayfinding to transportation. To support the move emphasis is placed on task based interfaces which support the creation of spatially based mental models. In order to support task based interfaces emphasis is also placed on contextually based interfaces which support transparency