Practical aspects of pattern-supported model-driven user interface generation

Abstract

Today, highly interactive software has become a crucial ingredient of the daily life. Rapidly evolving technologies and simultaneously increasing user demands make human-computer interaction (HCI) more and more a major criterion for the judgement on success or non-success of software and electronic devices. Contemporary users expect that software products run on a variety of heterogeneous devices with a consistent look and feel, invariable high usability, and a high degree of appealing user experience. In addition, people tend to be impatient and like to have their applications contemporaneously available on their different devices. In order to meet these requirements we have combined a model-driven user interface development process with pattern-based methods in order to realize the best possible reuse when constructing models which subsequently serve as basis for at least semi-automatic user interface generation. This hybrid development approach is the fundament of the PaMGIS framework which is explicated in theory and primarily in practice within the following sections.