Interface Design Tool Research Articles

Effect of interface design on cognitive workload in unmanned aerial vehicle control

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) control interfaces are critical channels for transferring information between the vehicle and an operator. Research on system performance has focused on enhancing vehicle automation and some work has evaluated cognitive workload for existing UAV interfaces. The potential for usable interface design to reduce cognitive workload during the early design phase has been largely overlooked. This study addresses these gaps by: (1) evaluating the effectiveness of a contemporary UAV interface design tool (the Modified GEDIS-UAV) to moderate user workload; (2) examining the effectiveness of various UAV interface designs for minimizing cognitive workload under different control task pacing; and (3) exploring the use of eye tracking measures, traditionally applied in other domains, as indicators of cognitive workload in UAV operations. We prototyped three different interface designs, classified as “baseline”, “enhanced” and “degraded” interfaces. Cognitive workload in UAV operation was manipulated in terms of levels of vehicle speed (“low” and “high”). Physiological and subjective measures of workload were collected for all combinations of interface design and task demand. Results revealed the “enhanced” interface to yield the lowest operator cognitive workload and supported operator resilience to increased control task demand, as compared to the “baseline” and “degraded” interfaces. In addition, task demand was found to elevate operator cognitive workload, particularly in terms of "mental" and "temporal" demands and operator perceptions of "performance". The study also demonstrated utility of eye-tracking technology for detecting cognitive workload in UAV operations. This research provides practical guidance for UAV control interface design to manage operator workload. The methods employed in the study are applicable to interface evaluation for various types of UAVs and other unmanned systems to enhance human-automation interaction.

Analysis of the Creation Strategy of Online Humanities Learning Environment from the Perspective of Interactive Psychology

Analysis of the Creation Strategy of Online Humanities Learning Environment from the Perspective of Interactive Psychology

E-Gyan Portal

- The "E-Gyan Portal" project aims to revolutionize distance learning through the design and development of an automated system tailored for managing the distance learning process. It includes modules for student registration, access to library resources, and self-assessment tools. This project addresses the shortcomings of conventional distance education methods by introducing a digital platform focused on easy access to learning materials and seamless communication between students and faculty. The system eliminates geographical and time constraints, allowing students to pursue courses at their convenience. By leveraging modern technology, the E-Gyan Portal enhances the educational experience by providing centralized course management, interactive learning modules, real-time communication, and progress tracking. The project utilizes a robust hardware and software infrastructure, including Python with Django Framework for programming, SQLite for the database, and a suite of web development tools for user interface design. Drawing from extensive literature review, the project envisions future prospects for e-learning, emphasizing trends such as artificial intelligence integration and virtual reality. The E-Gyan Portal represents a significant advancement in distance education, promising a more accessible, interactive, and personalized learning experience for students worldwide.

Design with myself: A brain–computer interface design tool that predicts live emotion to enhance metacognitive monitoring of designers

Metacognitive monitoring, defined as the self-awareness and management of cognitive processes, influences creative design. Yet, there are few tools to enhance metacognitive monitoring through biofeedback. To address the gap, we present “Multi-Self”, a BCI-VR design tool for enhancing metacognitive monitoring in architectural design. Multi-Self evaluates designers’ emotions responses (valence and arousal) to their work, providing real-time, visual biofeedback. A proof-of-concept pilot study with 24 participants was conducted to assess the tool’s feasibility and usability. While feedback accuracy responses were mixed, most participants found the tool useful, reporting that it sparked metacognitive monitoring, encouraged exploration of the design space, and helped to modulate subjective uncertainty.

SAT133 A Case Study Of UX/UI Design Diabetes Medication Discharge Orderset: An Initiative To Reduce Discharge Prescribing Error

Abstract Disclosure: E. Yunasan: None. J. Park: None. R. Reddy: None. M. Pennant: None. Prescribing errors involving diabetes medications on discharge are common. The complexity of prescribing insulin, especially due to multiple insulin preparations and supplies contributes to these errors. For example, In our teaching hospital between 01/2021-06/2021, among 40 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) that were discharged home with insulin, 22 patients (55 %) were discharged without or with incorrect insulin supplies. Well-designed order -set has the potential to reduce the potential of medication errors. Here we present a case study of utilizing FIGMA prototyping software to design a new insulin discharge order set. FIGMA is a web-based user interface design tool, that enables multiple parties to collaborate and work on user experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) prototyping. The aim of this case study is to explore design considerations using FIGMA software for establishing a patient-centered, and user-friendly insulin discharge order set involving multiple stakeholders in the hospital including residents, diabetes educators, attendings, pharmacists, and endocrinologists. We conducted multiple prototyping sessions using FIGMA software. Each participant is able to work simultaneously on the discharge order set together in real-time. The prototyping sessions result in a new discharge order set, which focused on simplicity and provider efficiency in the hope to reduce prescribing errors. Here we outline the advancement in order set design. The previous order set presents 20 different types of insulin pens/syringes that are listed together with a blood glucose meter, testing strips, lancets, alcohol pads, and a lancet device. After that, providers have to manually enter the order for insulin separately. In the new order set, providers will only see 2 options, “Patient uses insulin pen”, and “Patient uses vial and syringe”. When providers choose, “Patient uses insulin pen”, the new order set would automatically pre-selected the options for insulin pen, pen needle, glucometer, testing strips, lancets, and alcohol swabs. Testing supplies options come with default instructions and prefilled quantities. Options for endocrinology, diabetes educator and transitional care referrals are also automatically pre-selected. Additional orders such as metformin, GLP-1 agonist, and SGLT-2 inhibitors are presented as options. Alternatively, if providers choose the insulin syringe option, the order set would look similar, except the order set would present pre-selected options for insulin vials that are already linked with the correct syringe size. In conclusion, creating an insulin discharge order set using FIGMA is a great way to collaborate with multiple stakeholders. This platform can also be potentially utilized in developing other order sets. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Thermal interface doping strategies based on Bayesian optimization

Enhancing interfacial thermal conductance (ITC) plays a crucial role in microelectronics cooling because the continued reduction of the device size and increased power intensity demand more efficient heat dissipation. Although light atom doping and interface roughness were reported to enhance ITC in certain cases, they could also reduce ITC depending on the specific interface configurations. By leveraging Bayesian optimization, we provide the practical guidelines to achieve enhancement of ITC with high confidence via a proper selection of dopant mass and/or concentration, regardless of actual interfacial configurations. We demonstrate that the data-driven approach could be a helpful tool for interface design with desired ITCs.

The Design of Automatic Carton Packing System of Tobacco Based on STM32

This article is aimed at the requirements of a cigarette factory’s off-site technical transformation task, and it needs to transfer part of the stem and expanded silk produced by the new factory to the old factory. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a set of fully automatic carton packing system for shredded tobacco to improve production efficiency and reduce labor intensity. The system is divided into mechanical equipment layer, equipment control layer and production monitoring layer. The mechanical equipment layer is the design of the process flow between the various machinery and equipment of the tobacco packing production line; the equipment control layer is based on the STMicroelectronics32(STM32) single-chip microcomputer as the control core, through Modbus The protocol controls each device and performs data transmission, and communicates with the upper computer through the industrial Ethernet and Modbus Transmission Control Protocol(Modbu TCP) protocol; the production monitoring layer is based on the Qt programming tool for interface design and data transmission with the lower computer, and the relevant data is stored in My Structured Query Language (MySQL) In the database. This solution realizes the automation, networking and intelligence of industrial production lines, liberating manpower and improving efficiency.

Toy user interface design—Tools for Child–Computer Interaction

A Toy User Interface (ToyUI) is a setup combination of one or more toy components with other hardware or software components. As part of new technologies that permeate the Child–Computer Interaction (CCI) domain, a ToyUI can combine physical toy components with social robots, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, among other computing artifacts. This paper compiles a collection of design tools that we develop to support interdisciplinary creators in prototyping innovative ToyUI setups. The design tools aim to help the CCI community understand the benefits of hardware and software integration while delivering solutions that can meet privacy by design principles. We apply the Design Science framework to assess the problem context and propose and evaluate the design tools following a Human-Centered Design (HCD) perspective. The tools cover steps from inspiration to ideation and implementation, including user research, brainstorming, data collection planning, and low to high-fidelity prototyping tools. We detail the current version of the design tools and six years of results through qualitative evaluation in an educational setting (with 255 creators in seven different institutions). We also propose novel versions of the tools to support remote teamwork and education, and we highlight training challenges during the social distancing context.

Development of User Interface Design Tool and Training Kit for Standalone Photovoltaic System

Development of User Interface Design Tool and Training Kit for Standalone Photovoltaic System

Enhancement and Application of a UAV Control Interface Evaluation Technique

UAV supervisory control interfaces are important for safe operations and mission performance. We reviewed existing UAV interface design and evaluation tools and identified limitations. To address issues with existing methods, we developed an enhanced evaluation tool, the M-GEDIS-UAV. The tool includes detailed criteria for all aspects of UAV control interface design to support operator performance. It also supports quantitative and objective assessment of an interface. We prototyped three UAV information displays, including a digital control display, analog control display, and “massive” data display, as part of a simulated supervisory control interface. Six analysts, including three human factors experts and three novices evaluated the interfaces using the M-GEDIS-UAV. Inter-rater reliability was high for the human factors experts, suggesting training in usability analysis is necessary for tool application. Results also revealed the massive data display to produce significantly lower evaluation scores than the other displays. We concluded that the M-GEDIS-UAV was sensitive to interface manipulations and was most effectively used by human factors experts. Using the M-GEDIS-UAV tool can reveal the majority of design deviations from guidelines early in the design process toward increasing the effectiveness of control interfaces.

A new optimization model for design of traditional cockpit interfaces

PurposeReal flight is cognitively demanding; accordingly, both indicators and display panel layout should be user-friendly to improve pilot-aircraft interaction. Poor pilot-interface interactions in aircrafts could result in accidents. Although a general reason of accidents is improper displays, relatively few studies were conducted on interfaces. This study aims to present an optimization model to create intuitively integrated user-friendly cockpit interfaces.Design/methodology/approachSubjectivity within most usability evaluation techniques could bring about interface design problems. A priori information about indicator’s possible locations may be available or unavailable. Thus different analytical approaches must be applied for modifications and new interface designs. Relative layout design (RLD) model was developed and used in new interface designs to optimize locations of indicators. This model was based on layout optimization and constructed in accordance with design requirements, ergonomic considerations with the pilot preferences. RLD model optimizes interface design by deploying indicators to the best locations to improve usability of display panel, pilot-aircraft interaction and flight safety.FindingsOptimum interfaces for two problem instances were gathered by RLD model in 15.77 CPU(s) with 10 indicators and 542.51 CPU(s) with 19 indicators. A comparison between relative and existing cockpit interfaces reveals that locations of six navigation and four mechanical system indicators are different. The differences may stem from pilots’ preferences and relativity constraints. Both interfaces are more similar for the central part of the display panel. The objective function value of relative interface design (Opt: 527938) is far better than existing interface (737100). The RLD model improved usability of existing interface (28.61 per cent considering decrease in the objective function values from 737100 to 527938.Practical implicationsFuture cockpit and new helicopter interface designs may involve RLD model as an alternative interface design tool. Furthermore, other layout optimization problems, e.g. circuit boards, microchips and engines, etc. could be handled in a more realistic manner by RLD model.Originality/valueOriginality and impact of this study related to development and employment of a new optimization model (RLD) on cockpit interface design for the first time. Engineering requirements, human factors, ergonomics and pilots’ preferences are simultaneously considered in the RLD model. The subjectivity within usability evaluation techniques could be diminished in this way. The contributions of RLD model to classical facility layout models are relativity constraints with the physical constrictions and ergonomic objective function weights. Novelty of this paper is the development and employment of a new optimization model (RLD) to locate indicators.

Uvis: A Formula-Based End-User Tool for Data Visualization

Existing approaches to data visualization are one of these two: accessible to end-user developers but limited in customizability, or inaccessible and expressive. For instance, commercial charting tools are easy to use, but support only predefined visualizations, while programmatic visualization tools support custom visualizations, but require advanced programming skills. We show that it is possible to combine the learnability of charting tools and the expressiveness of visualization tools. Uvis is an interactive visualization and user interface design tool that targets end-user developers with skills comparable to spreadsheet formulas. With Uvis, designers drag and drop visual objects, set visual properties to formulas, and see the result immediately. The formulas are declarative and similar to spreadsheet formulas. The formulas compute the property values and can refer to data from database, visual objects, and end-user input. To substantiate our claim, we compared Uvis with popular visualization tools. Further, we conducted usability studies that test the ability of designers to customize visualizations with our approach. Our results show that end-user developers can learn the basics of Uvis relatively fast.

Validation and reliability study of a ventilator usability assessment tool

Background: Usability is an index to assess a product from the viewpoint of users satisfaction, efficiency and productivity improvement. The main attributes of usability that are derived from the human factors are and used in usability design of the interfaces Include: compatibility, consistency, flexibility, minimal action, perceptual limitation, usefulness, learnability, ease of use, minimal memory load, user guidance, satisfaction and errors. The main aim of this study was to assess the usability of interface design tool for a ventilator utilized in the hospitals of Arak city, Iran; and study its validation and reliability. Methods and Materials After constructing the initial questionnaire from the standard sources, specific techniques to determine the validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used for the validity and reliability study. The study procedure was: determining the scope and dimensions of the questions, drafting questionnaire, assigning members of the expert panel, study, questionnaire data acquisition and analysis methods, determining acceptance criteria of the questions and the content validity and reliability index. Results Final tool was a 42-items questionnaire. The content validity index (CVI) of questionnaire was 0.86. The results showed that the total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.89 as an acceptable value for the reliability of questionnaire. Conclusion After the final questionnaire design and the appropriate validity and reliability of it, adopting this tool to assess the usability of breathing apparatus (ventilator) is recommended. With usability assessment of such vital instruments, quality improvement, higher efficiency and productivity as well as errors reduction and good design user interface will be achieved. Keywords: usability, ventilator, evaluation questionnaire, content validity, reliability

Investigating Expressive Tactile Interaction Design in Artistic Graphical Representations

In this article, a design research approach is taken to investigate expressive design of tactile interactions. Most research efforts to date on designing and exploring the representational aspects of tactile interfaces have focused on usability and task-oriented scenarios. Yet, there is limited knowledge on how to aid the design of tactile interfaces that support the design of expressive or user-experience-oriented tactile interactions. We address this gap by studying tactile designs in a multisensory context, where the tactile interface augments works of visual art. The expressive and artistic context introduces new opportunities to extend on previous work, and identify new design and interaction potentials with tactile interfaces in graphical multisensory scenarios. During one-on-one guided design sessions, visual artists were asked to create tactile design prototypes that augmented one of their existing works. Each element of the overall tactile design, regarded as atactile feature, was analyzed using both the bottom-up and top-down approaches. The results discovered through grounded theory are presented and discussed with respect to semiotic theory. Accordingly,tactile constructsandtactile intentsdefine the “form” and “meaning” components of each tactile feature, respectively. Overall analysis of the findings indicates associations among the identified categories and between the two components, leading to design implications for expressive tactile interfaces. Insights from thetactile intentssuggest a set of affordances for expressive visuotactile interactions, which we introduce under the notion ofexpressive roles. Additionally, implications from thetactile constructsindicate a design space for an expressive tactile augmentation design tool, based on which a user interface architecture is proposed. Findings from this research can assist in developing systems and tools for expressive tactile interface design and inspire research in user experience and behavior in multisensory tactile interaction scenarios.

Automatic Detection of Potential Automation Surprises for ADEPT Models

This paper describes how to automatically detect potential automation surprises in interactive systems, within a rapid automation interface design tool named ADEPT. The proposed analysis method in this paper is based on a conformance relation, called full-control , between the model of the actual system and a mental model of it, that is, its behavior as perceived by the operator. The method can, among other things, automatically generate a so-called minimal full-control mental model for a given system. Systems are well designed if they can be described by relatively simple mental models for their operators, which can be assessed with the minimal full-control mental model generation algorithms. During the generation, potential automation surprises are detected and highlighted with execution examples that may lead to confusion. The analysis methods are based on an enriched version of labeled transition systems to describe the system and mental models. In order to be able to integrate the analysis method within ADEPT, a semantics for ADEPT models makes it possible to translate them into enriched LTSs. The proposed translation is automated for a specified class of ADEPT models that are characterized and defined in this paper. A case study demonstrates the proposed analysis framework and informs how the integration with ADEPT can be improved.

Designing Real‐time Decision Support for Trauma Resuscitations

Use of electronic clinical decision support (eCDS) has been recommended to improve implementation of clinical decision rules. Many eCDS tools, however, are designed and implemented without taking into account the context in which clinical work is performed. Implementation of the pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical decision rule at one Level I pediatric emergency department includes an electronic questionnaire triggered when ordering a head computed tomography using computerized physician order entry (CPOE). Providers use this CPOE tool in less than 20% of trauma resuscitation cases. A human factors engineering approach could identify the implementation barriers that are limiting the use of this tool. The objective was to design a pediatric TBI eCDS tool for trauma resuscitation using a human factors approach. The hypothesis was that clinical experts will rate a usability-enhanced eCDS tool better than the existing CPOE tool for user interface design and suitability for clinical use. This mixed-methods study followed usability evaluation principles. Pediatric emergency physicians were surveyed to identify barriers to using the existing eCDS tool. Using standard trauma resuscitation protocols, a hierarchical task analysis of pediatric TBI evaluation was developed. Five clinical experts, all board-certified pediatric emergency medicine faculty members, then iteratively modified the hierarchical task analysis until reaching consensus. The software team developed a prototype eCDS display using the hierarchical task analysis. Three human factors engineers provided feedback on the prototype through a heuristic evaluation, and the software team refined the eCDS tool using a rapid prototyping process. The eCDS tool then underwent iterative usability evaluations by the five clinical experts using video review of 50 trauma resuscitation cases. A final eCDS tool was created based on their feedback, with content analysis of the evaluations performed to ensure all concerns were identified and addressed. Among 26 EPs (76% response rate), the main barriers to using the existing tool were that the information displayed is redundant and does not fit clinical workflow. After the prototype eCDS tool was developed based on the trauma resuscitation hierarchical task analysis, the human factors engineers rated it to be better than the CPOE tool for nine of 10 standard user interface design heuristics on a three-point scale. The eCDS tool was also rated better for clinical use on the same scale, in 84% of 50 expert-video pairs, and was rated equivalent in the remainder. Clinical experts also rated barriers to use of the eCDS tool as being low. An eCDS tool for diagnostic imaging designed using human factors engineering methods has improved perceived usability among pediatric emergency physicians.

GUI Database for the Equipment Store of the Department of Geomatic Engineering, KNUST

The geospatial analyst is required to apply art, science, and technology to measure relative positions of natural and man-made features above or beneath the earth’s surface, and to present this information either graphically or numerically. The reference positions for these measurements need to be well archived and managed to effectively sustain the activities in the spatial industry. The research herein described highlights the need for an information system for the Land Surveyor’s Equipment Store. Such a system is a database management system with a user-friendly graphical interface. This paper describes one such system that has been developed for the Equipment Store of the Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. The system facilitates efficient management and location of instruments, as well as easy location of beacons together with their attribute information; it provides multimedia information about instruments in an Equipment Store. Digital camera was used capture the pictorial descriptions of the beacons. A Geographic Information System (GIS) software was employed to visualize the spatial location of beacons and to publish the various layers for the Graphical User Interface (GUI). The aesthetics of the interface was developed with user interface design tools and coded by programming. The developed Suite, powered by a reliable and fully scalable database, provides an efficient way of booking and analyzing transactions in an Equipment Store.

Interview with Kaj Grønbæk

Kaj Grønbæk received his PhD in 1991 from University of Aarhus, Denmark. Since 1999 he is full professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark. He is a manager of the interdisciplinary Center for Interactive Spaces. His research includes hypermedia, Web-technologies, interactive spaces, augmented reality, context-aware interaction, interaction design, as well as participatory design. He has developed hypermedia systems and user interface design tools, and he has a scientific publication list including a book and more than 100 international papers. He has managed or co-managed a series of research projects, amounting to more than 60 million Dkr. in external funding. Many of the projects have taken place in collaboration with industry. He is one of the co-founders of the Multimedia and the IT-educations at University of Aarhus, and he has extensive experience in teaching. For more information and access to publications, see http://www.cs.au.dk/~kgronbak.

A method and advisor tool for multimedia user interface design

This paper describes a multimedia user interface design method and a design assistant tool which supports the method. The method covers specification of user requirements and information architecture, selection of appropriate media to represent the information content, design for directing attention to important information and interaction design to enhance user engagement. Guidelines for media selection and design for attractiveness, i.e. usability and user experience, are given. The method was evaluated in a case study design of a crowd control simulation training system, which demonstrated the method was usable and gave good solutions against an expert gold standard design. The tool provides advice on media selection and attention effects that match specification of the information content expressed as information types and communication goals. A usability evaluation was carried out to measure the usefulness and effectiveness of the tool in comparison to the method, and the results showed that the tool has a positive impact on multimedia design.

Human Action Laws in Electronic Virtual Worlds: An Empirical Study of Path Steering Performance in VR

This paper is concerned with simple human performance “laws of action” for three classes of tasks—pointing, crossing, and steering, as well as their applications in Virtual Reality research. In comparison to Fitts' law of pointing, the “law of steering”— the quantitative relationship between human temporal performance and the movement path's spatial characteristics—has been notably under investigated. After a review of research on the law of steering in different domains and time periods, we examine the applicability of the law of steering in a VR locomotion task. Participants drove a virtual vehicle in a virtual environment on paths whose shape and width were systematically manipulated. Results showed that the law of steering indeed applies to locomotion in Virtual Environments. Participants' mean trial completion times linearly correlated (r2 between 0.985 and 0.999) with an index of difficulty quantified as path length to width ratio for the straight and circular paths used in this experiment. On average both the mean and the maximum speeds of the participants were linearly proportional to path width. Such human performance regularity provides a quantitative tool for 3D human-machine interface design and evaluation. We also propose to use the law-of-steering model in Virtual Reality manipulation tasks such as the “ring and wire” task in the future.