Adaptation Algorithm for Application Menus

Abstract

A software application’s menu is an important part of its user interface. User satisfaction and application usage efficiency depend on how well the menu is designed. Application menus designed by the developer are intended for the average user and do not take into account the needs and characteristics of individual users. A solution to this problem is the creation of user interfaces capable of adapting to the needs of an individual user. The approach to adapting the user menu of an application program proposed in this paper is based on a user model generated by monitoring user actions in the process of working with the program. A mathematical model of the application menu and a model of the application user are constructed, and an algorithm for adaptive modification of the application menu is proposed. The proposed algorithm for creating menu item links at higher hierarchy levels and hiding unused menu items makes it possible to reduce the activation time of menu items, thus increasing the user’s productivity.