Demonstration-based help for interactive systems

The usability of day-to-day applications is of utmost importance. The lack of usability of these is one of the causes of frustration at work, as it creates barriers to the execution of tasks. The Change of applications by third parties, to increase usability, is difficult because it requires, usually, access to source codes and an increase on its complexity. This work proposes and implements a demonstration help tool that allows the improvement of tasks completion, decreases the time spent, and reduces the cost of learning. An analysis of work on aid tools is presented identifying positive aspects and research opportunities. The help tool developed allows the creation of automation through picture-driven computing, which makes it possible to develop help mechanisms independent from application source codes. Since the tool is image oriented, and tasks can involve multiple applications, it is also possible to develop help scripts that are not restricted to just one application. User studies were done with the objectives of validating the work developed and identifying platforms and tasks with usability problems in the business world. It was concluded that the work has positive effects in the accomplishment of tasks.A usabilidade das aplicações utilizadas no dia-a-dia é de extrema importância. A falta de usabilidade destas é um dos causadores de frustração no trabalho, pois cria barreiras à execução de tarefas. A alteração das aplicações por terceiros de forma a aumentar a usabilidade é difícil pois requer, usualmente, acesso aos códigos fonte e incremento da sua complexidade. Este trabalho propõe e implementa uma ferramenta de ajuda por demonstração que visa melhorar o sucesso na realização de tarefas, reduzir o tempo despendido, e diminuir o esforço de aprendizagem. Uma análise a trabalhos sobre ferramentas de ajuda é apresentada identificando aspetos positivos e oportunidades de investigação. A ferramenta de ajuda desenvolvida permite a criação de automações através de computação por imagem, que tornam possível o desenvolvimento de mecanismos de ajuda independentes dos códigos fonte das aplicações. Sendo que a ferramenta é orientada a imagem, e que as tarefas podem envolver múltiplas aplicações, torna-se também possível o desenvolvimento de scripts de ajuda não restringidos a apenas uma aplicação. Foram realizados estudos com utilizadores com os objetivos de validar o trabalho desenvolvido e identificar plataformas e tarefas com problemas de usabilidade no meio empresarial. Deste modo, concluiu-se que o trabalho tem efeitos positivos na realização de tarefas

Source Code Interaction on Touchscreens

Direct interaction with touchscreens has become a primary way of using a device. This work seeks to devise interaction methods for editing textual source code on touch-enabled devices. With the advent of the “Post-PC Era”, touch-centric interaction has received considerable attention in both research and development. However, various limitations have impeded widespread adoption of programming environments on modern platforms. Previous attempts have mainly been successful by simplifying or constraining conventional programming but have only insufficiently supported source code written in mainstream programming languages. This work includes the design, development, and evaluation of techniques for editing, selecting, and creating source code on touchscreens. The results contribute to text editing and entry methods by taking the syntax and structure of programming languages into account while exploiting the advantages of gesture-driven control. Furthermore, this work presents the design and software architecture of a mobile development environment incorporating touch-enabled modules for typical software development tasks

Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Live Coding

Open Access peer reviewed papers on live coding published at the 1st International Conference on Live Coding (ICLC) in Leeds

Third International Symposium on Space Mission Operations and Ground Data Systems, part 1

Under the theme of 'Opportunities in Ground Data Systems for High Efficiency Operations of Space Missions,' the SpaceOps '94 symposium included presentations of more than 150 technical papers spanning five topic areas: Mission Management, Operations, Data Management, System Development, and Systems Engineering. The papers focus on improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and quality of data acquisition, ground systems, and mission operations. New technology, techniques, methods, and human systems are discussed. Accomplishments are also reported in the application of information systems to improve data retrieval, reporting, and archiving; the management of human factors; the use of telescience and teleoperations; and the design and implementation of logistics support for mission operations