Interface Development Tools Research Articles

Implementation of a Graphic Interface Development Tool for Prolog


 
 
 The work examines the current problems of the spread of use of logical programming in the development of commercial multi-platform software applications, tools for convenient development of a modern graphical interface to the logical programs. Libraries with similar concepts of use have been analyzed and described. The purpose of the proposed concept, which is implemented as an open source library, is described, and the advantages of the proposed tools over similar existing tools are indicated. The main feature and advantage of the proposed concept is the implementation of Prolog business logic and interface by means of JavaScript usage of child processes. The proposed concept of interface to Prolog takes full advantage of the possibilities provided by async await. A framework library has been created for the use of Logic Programming in graphical interface development without losses in the application performance. The paper describes the proposed concept and the developed framework (library). The ways to further improve the possibilities for expanding the purpose of the implemented library were identified. The directions of further simplification for programmers of integration of the graphic interface to logical programs have been defined. A significant advantage of the proposed tool is the easy-to-use functions to wrap and control the correctness of requests to the Prolog. The main goal of the library is to create an environment for the Prolog developers where they can create any type of software, which is meant to be user friendly, fast, and cross platform using modern and flexible. This concept also tries to solve disadvantages and architectural problems that were found in other libraries. The safety of library functionality has been analyzed. The concept of potential horizontal application scalability is described. Conclusions and future of libraries were introduced, in which the usage of TypeScript for type-safety and avoidance of run-time errors is mentioned. Overall, the library extends the use of Prolog beyond logical programming and takes a leap forward in its progress.
 
 

BACKPRESSURE BASED TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL CONSIDERING CAPACITY OF DOWNSTREAM LINKS

Congestion is a kind of expression of instability of traffic network. Traffic signal control keeping traffic network stable can reduce the congestion of urban traffic. In order to improve the efficiency of urban traffic network, this study proposes a decentralized traffic signal control strategy based on backpressure algorithm used in Wi-Fi mesh networks for packets routing. Backpressure based traffic signal control algorithm can stabilize urban traffic network and achieve maximum throughput. Based on original backpressure algorithm, the variant parameter and penalty function are considered to balance the queue differential and capacity of downstream links in urban traffic network. For each traffic phase of intersections, phase weight is computed using queue differential and capacity of downstream links, which fixed the deficiency of infinite queue capacity in original backpressure algorithm. It is proved that the extended backpressure traffic signal control algorithm can maintain stability of urban traffic network, and also can prevent queue spillback, so as to improve performance of whole traffic network. Simulations are carried out in Vissim using Vissim COM programming interface and Visual Studio development tools. Evaluation results illuminate that it can get better performance than the backpressure algorithm just based on queue length differential in average queue length and delay of traffic network.

Applying Operations Research to Scheduling Work Cells in a Manufacturing Environment

Constant competition in the manufacturing sector forces companies to continually decrease their costs while satisfying customer needs. These companies could be more efficient and achieve better results if they automated many of the tasks that they now schedule manually. In this paper, we describe how one department of Johnson Electric, a leading manufacturer of electromechanical components, automated and improved its scheduling process through the application of operations research. We created an easy-to-use Excel Solver-based tool for scheduling self-directed work cells. This tool does not require a user to have any knowledge of mathematical programming, because it automatically adds the objective function and constraints in the background. Our results show that the time required to create schedules decreases drastically and that the quality of the schedules improves significantly depending on the chosen objective function. We illustrate how fundamental knowledge of single-machine scheduling can add significant practical value in manufacturing. Moreover, our work shows that advances in computer interface development tools (e.g., Visual Basic for Applications) are making it possible to efficiently implement operations research concepts.

Development of CNC software for single point diamond precision lathe based on UMAC

A precise single point diamond turning (SPDT) CNC software is developed on the Windows platform using QT4.8.1 graphical interface development tools, with the calling of the UMAC library function. This paper introduces the hardware design of precise SPDT CNC system, the communication method between QT and UMAC, the design and implement of the main interface of the software, the implement of the basic motion control, the process of each module and the software three-dimensional (3D) simulation of this system. The result of the 3D simulation shows that the design of the system is reasonable and the system is able to achieve good processing results. Such a numerical control system has a certain economic value and prospects for industrial applications.

Cross-use pattern language: cross-cultural user interface development tool

Abstract This paper discusses the Culture-Centred Design (CCD) method and the integration of its result in developing a tool that can help designers to develop user interfaces for cross-cultural user websites. CCD method identifies the role of culture in the design of user interfaces. In order to determine the role of culture in the design of Cross-cultural user interface, two approaches were used and these are CCD and Pattern Language, and presented in this paper as two phases. The first phase focuses on the development of a cultural profile that is based-on CCD, whereby several investigating approaches were applied for three national cultures Kuwait, Egypt and UK (Brazil was investigated in the cultural profile). These approaches were applied to determine the link between users’ culture and user interface design specifically for e-banking systems. The second phase introduces the Pattern Language as a tool to transfer the knowledge perceived from CCD method to designers. The results of the first phase were exploited in the development of pattern language for e-banking UI design. This language is used to share successfully proven solutions that are usability tested and evidence based for specific cultures (Localization) or for multi-cultures (Globalization).

A design-and-play approach to accessible user interface development in Ambient Intelligence environments

User interface development in Ambient Intelligence (AmI) environments is anticipated to be a particularly complex and programming intensive endeavor. Additionally, AmI environments should ensure accessibility and usability of interactive technologies by users with different characteristics and requirements in a mainstream fashion. Therefore, appropriate user interface development methods and tools are required, capable of both reducing development efforts and ‘injecting’ accessibility issues into AmI applications from the early design stages. This paper introduces two tools, named AmIDesigner and AmIPlayer, which have been specifically developed to address the above challenges through automatic generation of accessible Graphical User Interfaces in AmI environments. The combination of these two tools offers a simple and rapid design-and-play approach, and the running user interfaces produced integrate non-visual feedback and a scanning mechanism to support accessibility. AmIDesigner and AmIPlayer have been evaluated to assess their usability by designers, and have been put to practice in the redevelopment of a light control application in a smart environment as a case study demonstrating the viability of the design-and-play approach. The results confirm the usefulness and usability of the tools themselves. Overall, the proposed approach has the potential to contribute significantly to the development, up-take and user acceptance of AmI technologies in the home environment.

Integration technology of ERP and PDM based on business remote function call

In order to better support ERP system and PDM system integration for independent enterprise network manufacturing systems, the characteristics of ERP and PDM integration are analyzed and the technology of business remote function call is presented. The standards or custom functions which support remote transfer using BRFC interface could be called by ERP and PDM systems. The data gained by ERP and PDM systems can be used to achieve the integration. Not only can a kind of integration model of ERP and PDM be composed, but the RFC interface can be semantically described. The structure, realization and interview of remote function call technology, which are used by ERP and PDM integration, are researched. Also, data exchange of system integration based on data stream direction is discussed to illustrate self-containment, collaboration and recombination of the ERP and PDM systems integration. The conception of a heterogeneous data translator is put forward, and its data structure is given. Interface development tools provided by ERP and PDM are fully considered. The system composing mode is construed clearly. The heterogeneous data translator is applied to realize classic code systems, system information searches of PDM, system information searches of ERP and integration information searches. Then the advantages of BRFC are expounded. The effectiveness and suitability of the BRFC interface integration mechanism is explained and verified. Finally, two application examples are presented to verify the feasibility and efficiency of RFC technology: a typical integration of WLPDM and SAP R/3 ERP in WLNM networked manufacturing platform and a typical integration of Kingdee ERP and HTPDM in Haitian mass customization platform. Thus seamless integration, plain integration, non-repeated data memory, integration flexibility and low cost are realized.

Inclusive development: Software engineering requirements for universally accessible interactions

The notion of ‘universal access’ reflects the concept of an Information Society in which potentially anyone (i.e. any user) will interact with computing machines, at anytime and anyplace (i.e. in any context of use) and for virtually anything (i.e. for any task). Towards reaching a successful and cost effective realization of this vision, it is critical to ensure that the future interface development tools provide all the necessary instrumentation to support inclusive design, i.e. facilitate inclusive development. In the meantime, it is crucial that both tool developers and interface developers acquire awareness regarding the key development features they should pursue when investigating for the most appropriate software engineering support in addressing such a largely demanding development goal (i.e. universally accessible interactions). This paper discusses a corpus of key development requirements for building universally accessible interactions that has been consolidated from real practice, in the course of six medium-to-large scale research projects, all completed, within a 10 years timeframe.

Choosing a user interface development tool

Software developers face many difficult decisions when building new applications, not the least of which is the design of the graphical user interface. The answer to one question-is it better to use a GUI development tool or build it manually?-is relatively straightforward. Today's tools offer several benefits that manual coding does not. Because these tools often provide a simple graphical interface for developing displays, nonprogrammers and human factors engineers can contribute their expertise. Also, if the schedule permits, a tool can be used to build prototypes throughout the development cycle; some tools even provide a test/prototype mode for testing displays without compiling and executing the entire application. And finally, end users can evaluate each prototype and provide feedback, increasing their satisfaction with the final product.

Using PCTE with X-based user interface development tools

PCTE is now recognized as a good basis for the construction of software engineering environments. Recent studies in the development of PCTE-based graphical user interfaces have shown that the built-in PCTE User Interface is inadequate for many applications, particularly in the context of the X Window System, which is becoming a de facto standard. The paper gives the results of a study of PCTE and of experiments carried out in getting an implementation of PCTE to work with the X Window System. These experiments have been performed as part of work done in assessing the feasibility of using PCTE with X-based user interface development tools. The results are encouraging.

Evaluating User Interface Development Tools

This paper describes a procedure for quantitatively evaluating and comparing user interface development tools, and presents results of evaluating four user interface development tools with the procedure. For each tool, summary numeric ratings for functionality and usability are presented. General conclusions about the four tools and about the tool evaluation procedure itself are also discussed.

Human-computer interface development tools: a methodology for their evaluation : Hix, D and Schulman, R SCommunications of the ACM, 1991, 34.3, 74–87, 7 refs

Human-computer interface development tools: a methodology for their evaluation : Hix, D and Schulman, R SCommunications of the ACM, 1991, 34.3, 74–87, 7 refs

Generating structure editor interfaces for OR procedures

The quest for OR interface development tools that are both flexible (in terms of interfaces produced) and high-level (in terms of developer specification accepted) is based on work in the DSS and UIMS fields. The DSS literature offers a foundation for understanding possible relationships between OR procedures, the data they can use, and the problem statements that cause their executions. The UIMS literature offers mechanisms for interface production. Of these, structure editing has been singled out here as a candidate for advancing OR research into interface construction. The first implementation of a structure editor interface for OR problem statements is described. The result is a direct manipulation user interface that presents LP problem statement images resembling traditional forms, but which allows variants of a single form to dynamically unfold in response to a user's expansion actions.

Human-computer interface development tools

A comprehensive checklist-based methodology produces quantifiable criteria for evaluating and comparing human-computer interface development tools along two dimensions: functionality and usability. An empirical evaluation shows that the methodology which is in use in several corporate interface development environments, produces reliable (consistent) results

User-interface development tools

A brief description is given of three approaches to user-interface development: tool kits, user-interface management systems (UIMS), and interactive design tools. Six selected tools are then introduced, in separate presentations, by their originating organization. They provide a cross-section of work in progress today. The tools selected represent a combination of traditional UIMs and new interactive design tools, although they all call themselves UIMs. The tools covered are: UIMX; Jam; Speedcode Universe; Serpent; Framer; and Mode.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

WITS-HEX: A renovated code for analysis of PIXE X-ray spectra

The code REX [H.C. Kaufmann and K.R. Akselsson, Adv. X-ray Anal. 18 (1975) 353] and its successor, HEX were developed at Florida State University and University of Lund in the early seventies for quantitative reduction of PIXE spectra. HEX modelled many of the physical processes, including target self-absorption. Lack of adequate documentation and several inherent software related problems hampered widespread adoption and further development. HEX was designed using a hierarchical functional design approach, coded in FORTRAN IV. Its element library and request list are tightly constrained. ANSI standard FORTRAN provides few structured constructs, nor does it support dynamic data structures. HEX has a batch mode of interaction which affords minimal (interim) user interactions. To overcome these limitations we have modernised the program to run on IBM PC compatible computers by using object-oriented design techniques, documented in Program Description Language (pseudo-code) and implemented in a modern programming language, Pascal. Turbo Pascal 5.5 provides an integrated program development environment, a high resolution graphics library, an operating system interface and many software development tools to improve programmer productivity. A menu-based highly interactive screen management library is used for the user interface. A demonstration version is available for user evaluation. Further rigorous testing and the development of user acquired spectra interfacing code will be developed before the first release. The renovated code, WITS-HEX, has extracted the intellectual value embodied in HEX. It will be inherently more stable, reliable, versatile, maintainable and easy to use to facilitate future process modifications.

Real-time multiprocessing of slit scan chromosome profiles

The multiprocessor NERV and its application to slit scan flow cytometry is described. Up to 320 processors and 640 MBytes of RAM may be used in one VME crate, providing a computing power of ≤ 1300 MIPS. The multiprocessor is controlled by a host computer that provides a friendly user interface and comfortable program development tools. All hardware and software has been tested on a prototype NERV system with 5 processors. For a real-time classification/detection of normal and aberrant chromosomes, the centromeric index or the number of centromeres are computed or specifically labeled DNA sequences are detected. The program is partitioned into 60 tasks that can be executed concurrently. A total analysis time of < 600 μs including system overhead will be achieved according to timing measurements which have been done for all individual tasks.

Anatomy of a compact user interface development tool

Many contemporary user oriented applications require a combination of attributes from both window and forms management systems. PANES was developed as a tool to fill this niche by providing a simple, yet flexible tool for both the moderately trained, as well as the more sophisticated programmer, while allowing the development of user friendly, modeless application software.