A semiotic framework for multi-user interfaces

Abstract

Semiotic approaches to user interface designs have shown that system interfaces are messages sent from the designers to the users. It is through the system's interface that designers tell the users the problems the system is able to solve and how the users should interact with it to solve these problems. In a multi-user's environment this message is more complex, since the designers must also tell the users how to interact in the group. To create such a message is not an easy task and designers should be provided with a good design tool. In this article we present a semiotic framework that is the first step in the direction of the construction of a multi-user interface design environment. The framework has three dimensions: action, communication and observation and provides support for the analysis of multi-user system's interface and understanding of interactions in the group. It can also be a helpful guide to designers of multi-users interfaces.