Service by Delegation Framework for User Interfaces in Ubiquitous Environment

Dagmawi, Lemma (2016) Service by Delegation Framework for User Interfaces in Ubiquitous Environment. PhD thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

The amalgamation of various technologies to realize ubiquitous computing entails heterogeneity that is caused by the coexistence of various devices, software, users as well as interaction modalities within the same computing environment. This in turn poses unique challenges for user interface (UI) designers and developers. To overcome the challenges, cross-platform UI development has been proposed as one of the solution so that the UIs can be adaptable to the heterogeneous capabilities and constraints of the platforms. Two of the prominent approaches followed in cross-platform UI development are UI distribution and UI migration. In both cases, the context (such as supported interaction modalities and elements) is often described at design time and mainly due consideration is given to the heterogeneity of the platform and based on a clientserver model; thus these approaches are subjected to issues of scalability and maintainability. In addition, both approaches are not addressing the trans-modality and implicit HCI (i-HCI) aspect. The aim of this research is to create a framework that enables UI developers apply cross-platform development: by considering the heterogeneity of platforms and users at the same time so as to improve the usability of cross-platform UIs; to overcome the problem of scalability by facilitating a runtime UI description method; as well a providing methods for representing i-HCI and trans-modality. A design science (DS) approach has been followed and runs in six iterations until the Service by Delegation (SbD) Framework is developed. During each of the iteration, problem analysis, design and construction/revision of artifacts have been done. Also, demonstration of the solution has been made using artifact, which has been evaluated to define the goal of the next iteration and/or to characterize the artifact. Part of the artifacts developed in this work is the common interface language (CIL). The CIL is used to describe and facilitate UI related information interchange. Prior to the construction of the meta-language of the CIL (i.e., the CIL-definition), taxonomy has been developed and the taxonomy is used to systematically classify capabilities and constraints that affects the construction of UIs from the device, system/software and human user perspective. Also, the taxonomy was developed with the intention of using it as evaluation method regarding the completeness and consistency of the CILdefinition. Theory of UI delegation is the theoretical contribution of this work, which is meant to guide cross-platform UI development method within peer-to-peer model. In particular, the theory set out the rules and principles to be followed within the SbD Framework. This contribution has complemented existing cross-platform UI approaches: UI distribution and UI migration. The SbD Framework we developed is then meant to support heterogeneity of both platform and users in ubiquitous environment by applying the theory of UI delegation and using CIL at different level. In the DS approach we followed, the artifact from each of the iteration has been evaluated by using expert evaluation and through prototype. The UI delegation has also been evaluated using a logical framework that was originally meant to characterize the UI distribution and UI migration. While the SbD Framework shows the possibility of developing cross-platform UI that can support heterogeneity of both the platform and the user at the same time, it is important to standardize the CIL and continuously update the structure by including new innovations or overlooked UI related information. Also, the communication between peers could be further studied so as to improve the performance aspect

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	CHI, cross-platform user interface, HCI, heterogeneous environment, pervasive, reference framework, ubiquitous, UI delegation, UI description language, UI taxonomy, usability, user interface,
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2018 14:29
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2018 14:29
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5628

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