Evaluating Metaphor Reification in Tangible Interfaces

International audienceMetaphors are a powerful conceptual device to reason about human actions. As such, they have been heavily used in designing and describing human computer interaction. Since they can address scripted text, verbal expression, imaging, sound, and gestures, they can also be considered in the design and analysis of multimodal interfaces. In this paper we discuss the description and evaluation of the relations between metaphors and their implementation in human computer interaction with a focus on tangible user interfaces (TUIs), a form of multimodal interface. The objective of this paper is to define how metaphors appear in a tangible context in order to support their evaluation. Relying on matching entities and operations between the domain of interaction and the domain of the digital application, we propose a conceptual framework based on three components: a structured representation of the mappings holding between the metaphor source, the metaphor target, the interface and the digital system; a conceptual model for describing metaphorical TUIs; three relevant properties, coherence, coverage and compliance, which define at what extent the implementation of a metaphorical tangible interface matches the metaphor. The conceptual framework is then validated and applied on a tangible prototype in an educational application

Design and prototyping of an interactive virtual environment to foster citizen participation and creativity in urban design

Public Participation encounters great challenges in the domain of urban design concerning decision making and citizens’ appropriation of a future place. Many tools and methods have been proposed to ease the participation process. In this paper we are targeting artefacts used in face-to-face workshops, in which citizens are asked to make design proposals for a public space. We claim that current state of the art can be improved (i) by better articulating digital artefacts with participatory processes and (ii) by providing interfaces that enhance citizen’s spatial awareness and comprehension as well as collective creativity in urban design projects. We present the design and prototyping of an interactive virtual environment that follow the design-science research guidelines.U_CODE project (H2020 No 688873

Enhancing synergies between computer science and urban disciplines: Semi-automated applications for tangible user interfaces, a case study

This paper explores an interdisciplinary design approach for coupling semi-automated applications with tangible user interfaces. It describes communication methods based on parameters and diagrams, between computer scientists and urban, architectural professionals and the matching abilities to give meaning to the various parts and elements of the system. By means of the development of two rule based applications it exploits different degrees of automation and kinds of feedback possibilities and its impact on discourse and decision making. It discusses design methods for interactive urban planning applications, which integrate the different requirements and benefits from both disciplines

BIM4VET, Towards BIM training recommendation for AEC professionals

The rapid development and use of BIM in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC/FM) industry requires an adequate understanding of the roles and competencies that professionals should develop and maintain. Besides, as the specific processes associated with BIM remain closely linked to the nature of the activities and teams involved in each project, one can consider that the definition of roles and competencies requires a project-level discussion and alignment. This article presents the main results achieved through the BIM4VET research project. It focuses first on the matrix of responsibilities defined for BIM profiles, and presents the global approach for assessing competency maturity and further recommends training courses, thanks to a benchmark carried out by the project partners. Second, the paper describes the BIM4VET toolset developed, and its associated repository of training modules, the management of users and their maturity assessment, and further the collective decision-making system intending to help practitioners collaboratively elaborating project-level responsibilities and registering for training sessions. The assessment of results is presented, through both (1) a Delphi questionnaire for achieving a sector-wide validation of roles and responsibilities, and (2) an experimental protocol involving observation of professionals using the tools