A Web-Based Tool for Collaborative Modelling and Analysis in Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science

Abstract

AbstractHuman-computer interaction and cognitive science are interdisciplinary areas in which computer scientists and mathematicians often work together with social scientists, such as psychologists and sociologists, as well as with more focussed practitioners such as usability experts and system analysts. In order to work effectively, interdisciplinary teams need to agree on a common communication language as a compromise between the computer scientists and mathematicians’ formal modelling approach and the conceptual models normally used by social scientists for describing their domain-related theories and frameworks. Moreover, even when proper communication is established within a specific research team, the next challenge is the presentation of the result to a heterogeneous international community, to allow for cross-fertilisation, exchanges of ideas, sharing of models, results and data, work replication and review. This tool paper presents ColMASC, a web-based tool and portal for the collaborative modelling and analysis of human cognition and behaviour as well as interactive systems. ColMASC aim is for researchers in human-computer interaction and cognitive science to freely use the tool provided by the web portal in order to collaborate in the development of models of computer/physical systems as well as human behaviour, run in silico experiments, compare the results of in silico experiments and experiments with human beings, perform simulations, analyse systems consisting of computer/physical components and human components, as well as download and upload datasets and models. Domain oriented modelling and visualisation interfaces ease the modelling and analysis processes by hiding the simulation and formal analysis engines.KeywordsTool developmentFormal methodsCollaborative researchHuman-computer interactionCognitive science