Theoretical and practical implications of user interface patterns applied for the development of graphical user interfaces

We address current research concerning patterns dedicated to enable higher reusability during the automated development of GUI systems. User interface patterns are promising artifacts for improvements in this regard. Both general models for abstractions of graphical user interfaces and user interface pattern based concepts such as potential notations and model-based processes are considered. On that basis, the present limitations and potentials surrounding user interface patterns are to be investigated. We elaborate what theoretical implications emerge from user interface patterns applied for reuse and automation within user interface transformation steps. For this purpose, formal descriptions of user interface patterns are necessary. We analyze the capabilities of the mature XML-based user interface description languages UIML and UsiXML to express user interface patterns. Additionally, we experimentally investigate and analyze strengths and weaknesses of two general transformation approaches to derive practical implications of user interface patterns. As a result, we develop suggestions on how to apply positive effects of user interface patterns for the development of pattern-based graphical user interfaces

A UML Reuse Framework and Tool for Requirements Engineering

Requirement Engineering (RE) activities are critical by nature and mostly manual. Some automated support for tasks helps requirements engineers to reduce manual labor and, consequently, reduce defects rates and increase reuse and motivation. In this paper, we introduce a UML framework and tool support which automates part of the RE process. Using UML stereotypes as the core of this solution, we created a set of integrated tools composed by: (1) a reusable framework that models RE behavior patterns that are typically present in information system projects; (2) a function that allows the reuse of information provided by entity modeling; (3) a tool that automates the generation of application prototypes; (4) a tool for counting IFPUG Function Points; and (5)a tool that analyzes specific types of defects. Our findings indicate that the framework and the automated support are effective at RE modeling and review.  In addition, they increase motivation and promote team engagement, through elimination of repetitive activities.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

A framework for information warehouse development processes

Since the terms Data Warehouse and On-Line Analytical Processing were proposed by Inmon and Codd, Codd, Sally respectively the traditional ideas of creating information systems in support of management’s decision became interesting again in theory and practice. Today information warehousing is a strategic market for any data base systems vendor. Nevertheless the theoretical discussions of this topic go back to the early years of the 20th century as far as management science and accounting theory are concerned and to the late 50s and early 60s when focussing information systems aspects. Although today efficient technology is available to develop information systems for management’s purposes information warehouse projects are still very risky and most of them are not finished successfully. The main reason for this situation lies in the lack of suitable languages to develop the conceptual specification of information arehouses. Based on this drawback methods for the development of information warehouses cannot be specified clearly. This paper proposes a language for the required conceptual specification of information warehouses based on an thorough analysis of management and accounting approaches to this topic and shows how this language can be integrated in a two dimensional development framework for information warehouse development as fundamental component

The MetaMIS approach for the specification of management views on business processes

The specification of management views on business processes is a main development task in the requirements specification of reporting systems for the management. Today the information warehouse is the accepted IT architecture for this purpose. The paper summarises the state of the research on the so called MetaMIS Approach. The methodological background is discussed and the modelling language comprising the conceptual and the representational language aspects is specified. Guidance rules complete the MetaMIS Modelling Technique. Examples show how the modelling technique works in enterprise environments. Some remarks on problem solving techniques as part of the MetaMIS Modelling Method are given. The appendix gives a detailed overview over the required linguistic operations for the construction of the modelling language.<br/

Semantische Spezifikation Dispositiver Informationssysteme

Trotz verfügbarer Technologie und anerkannter Systemarchitektur existieren im Rahmen der Entwicklung von Dispositiven Informationssystemen ungelöste Probleme, die in der semantischen Modellierung zu sehen sind. Es mangelt an anerkannten Sprachen und Notationen, die die Voraussetzung zur Ausbildung anerkannter Entwicklungsmethoden darstellen. Zunächst wird der Problembereich motiviert und es wird in Kapitel 2 ein Ordnungsrahmen vorgeschlagen, der hilft, die Diskussion von Entwicklungsprozessen von Information Warehouses zu strukturieren. Kapitel 3 schlägt sowohl eine Sprache als auch geeignete Notationskonventionen zur Nutzung der Sprache im Rahmen der semantischen Modellierung Dispositiver Informationssysteme vor. Kapitel 4 bietet ein Anwendungsbeispiel.<br/

Conceptual models as basis for integrated information warehouse development

Research in the field of information warehousing mostly focuses technical aspects. Only recently some contributions are found dealing with methodical aspects of information warehouse development processes. With respect to the central role information warehouses play for the management a development method is presented which strictly concentrates on management views. Language concepts are developed which allow the specification of information warehouses out of the managements perspective and a representation formalism supporting this language is presented. Methodically the language construction is based on constructive philosophy. Conceptual models are used as meta information in later development phases and it is shown how meta data of etl and olap tools available on the market can be generated out of the conceptual models. The approach presented has been verified by means of a prototype.<br/

Generación de la interfaz de usuario de negocio a partir de patrones de negocios basada en los fundamentos metodológicos de TD - MBUID

Este trabajo propone un proceso para el desarrollo de Interfaces de Usuario de negocio basada en Modelos -- La propuesta está fundamentada en la aproximación metodológica Task & Data – Model Based User Interface Development (TD-MBUID) y en la aplicación de una triada formada por asociación de patrones de datos, plantillas de presentación y modelos de interacción -- El proceso propuesto busca facilitar al desarrollador de la interfaz la interpretación de los modelos mentales que el usuario tiene de los datos; con el fin de mejorar el tiempo y calidad del diseño de los prototipos -- El proceso de desarrollo de desarrollo y la generación de la interfaz de usuario de negocio está soportado mediante el lenguaje DataForm y herramientas de Eclips

Specification of management views in information warehouse projects

With respect to the major role information warehouses play for the management an approach for specifying management views within the requirements specification phase is presented. Based on a framework relating development phases and abstraction layers the roles of documents within development processes are organised. The importance of using management views as metadata and parameters in later development phases is elaborated. Formally the transformation of management views into logical data mart schemes and report queries is shown by means of algorithms. Development phases are integrated based on meta level relationships. <br/

Human-Computer Interaction

In this book the reader will find a collection of 31 papers presenting different facets of Human Computer Interaction, the result of research projects and experiments as well as new approaches to design user interfaces. The book is organized according to the following main topics in a sequential order: new interaction paradigms, multimodality, usability studies on several interaction mechanisms, human factors, universal design and development methodologies and tools

Model-Driven Development of Interactive Multimedia Applications

The development of highly interactive multimedia applications is still a challenging and complex task. In addition to the application logic, multimedia applications typically provide a sophisticated user interface with integrated media objects. As a consequence, the development process involves different experts for software design, user interface design, and media design. There is still a lack of concepts for a systematic development which integrates these aspects. This thesis provides a model-driven development approach addressing this problem. Therefore it introduces the Multimedia Modeling Language (MML), a visual modeling language supporting a design phase in multimedia application development. The language is oriented on well-established software engineering concepts, like UML 2, and integrates concepts from the areas of multimedia development and model-based user interface development. MML allows the generation of code skeletons from the models. Thereby, the core idea is to generate code skeletons which can be directly processed in multimedia authoring tools. In this way, the strengths of both are combined: Authoring tools are used to perform the creative development tasks while models are used to design the overall application structure and to enable a well-coordinated development process. This is demonstrated using the professional authoring tool Adobe Flash. MML is supported by modeling and code generation tools which have been used to validate the approach over several years in various student projects and teaching courses. Additional prototypes have been developed to demonstrate, e.g., the ability to generate code for different target platforms. Finally, it is discussed how models can contribute in general to a better integration of well-structured software development and creative visual design