Planning and user interface affordances

Abstract

This paper takes a first step toward formalizing the concept of afhordance in user interfaces. Using a simple example d an AI planning domain, we show how different types of affordance can be described in terms of the costs associated with plan execution. We identify a number of similarities between executing plans and interacting with a graphical user interface, and argue that affordances for planning environments apply equally well to user interface environments. We support our argument with examples of common user interface mechanisms, described in alfordance terms.