Interaction model-Based user interfaces: Two approaches, one goal-comparison of two user interface generation approaches applying interaction models

Abstract

Nowadays, we use a variety of devices to interact with local and cloud-based systems and services. We are accustomed to utilize an esthetic, functional and well-structured user interfaces. Most of these user interfaces are designed for the broad mass following the “one fits all” strategy. Undoubtedly, such a universal design approach has some benefits, but it has also some essential limitations. Inflexibility and the lack of possibilities for personalization are just two examples for these limitations. General designed user interfaces are not able to take specific user needs and requirements into account. Model-based user interface design tackles this challenge by creating abstract models which are used as starting point for the generation of tailored user interfaces. This work targets the comparison of two different interaction modeling techniques (CTT vs. SCXML) used for the design of multimodal user interfaces. Next to the general concepts, the corresponding execution frameworks and the practical exploration results are presented. The summary of elaborated advantages and disadvantages of each approach clarifies that the CTT approach is more applicable for large and complex user interaction scenarios, whereas the SCXML approach is more suitable for lightweight and structurally simpler user interaction scenarios.