Design assistance for user-adapted interaction

Abstract

This paper discusses current approaches to user interface adaptation and describes how some of their shortcomings can be overcome by supporting the articulation of user interface adaptation constituents during the early phases of design and development of a user interface. It is claimed that this type of adaptation support is required to ensure accessibility of a user interface by different user groups with varying abilities, requirements and preferences. Additionally, the paper describes the components of a prototype design environment called USE-IT which has been developed to support the automatic derivation of such adaptation decisions so as to ensure that the resulting user interface will be accessible by the target user (group). The tool is part of a novel user interface development platform which integrates design assistance and development support to provide a unifying basis for constructing high quality user interfaces that are accessible by different user groups, including disabled and elderly people.Keywordsuser interface adaptationdesign assistanceinteraction metaphorsabstract interaction objectsadaptability rules