Workshop 6
A Pattern Supported Approach to User Interface Design
Asa Granlund, Daniel Lafreniere
June 30, 1999, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Patterns is definitely a hot topic in user interface design. During the last UPA Conference, Tom Erickson made a powerful presentation on patterns, that generated a lot of interest and discussions among the UPA members. Members seem eager to learn and exchange more about patterns, and above all; to find out more about their practical appliance for UI design.
This workshop addresses this need, stressing a usability engineering point of view, and spanning the entire development process – including conceptual design. This point of view differentiates this workshop from most others, which have mainly focused on patterns for design.
We propose a pattern-supported approach to user interface design as a starting point for discussion and exploration, addressing patterns not only at the design phase but during the entire process. For instance, we propose patterns for system definition, task analysis and conceptual design.
We think of these patterns as a unique way to capture and communicate knowledge from previous designs (including knowledge regarding system definition, task analysis and conceptual design), and for suggesting generic solutions based on user, task and context of use. Patterns are viewed as tools for guiding and supporting the usability engineer in his/her tasks.
The goal of this workshop is to share thoughts on how to apply patterns throughout these phases from a usability engineering point of view, using the proposed approach. A case study will be used as a concrete reference throughout the workshop.
Some of the questions we wish to address during this workshop are:
On tasks: What makes a good task pattern (what information is relevant to capture and pass on)? What is the proper granularity of a task pattern? Can information about the user and the context of use be integrated in the task pattern, or should it be separated? How can task patterns best be analyzed and applied? Do you think task patterns could really help doing a good task analysis (and user profiling)?
On conceptual design: How well can conceptual design solutions be described with patterns (and what information is relevant to capture and pass on)? What is the proper granularity of a conceptual pattern? What are the forces of conceptual patterns? How can conceptual patterns best be analyzed and applied? How do we bridge the gap to the actual (physical) interface design? Do you think conceptual patterns could really help creating a good conceptual design?
We invite participation from practitioners, familiar or not with patterns, who have been involved in different design projects. These practitioners should be familiar with at least one task analysis technique, and have some thoughts or ideas about conceptual design.
In preparation for the workshop, we will provide a list of papers (about 5 including a long paper on our approach) that participants will have to read prior to the workshop. Participants will only have to submit their comments and thoughts on these papers before the workshop. We can accommodate up to 14 people (excluding the workshop leaders).
Registering for a Workshop
Workshops are closed sessions; you may register for a workshop only with
permission of the workshop organizer. To participate, please send your position paper to one of the following addresses by May 27, 1999. Electronic applications may be submitted in plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Microsoft Word for Windows.
Although the workshop deadline is after the end of early registration, you
can still qualify for the early conference registration discount if you register during
the early registration period. Your registration should include the workshop
you are requesting. Workshop registration (which is not discounted based on
the registration date) will be processed when approved by the workshop coordinator.
Daniel Lafrenière
GESPRO Technologies
1245 chemin Ste-Foy
Edifice 1, bureau 300
Québec (QC), Canada
G1S 4P2
lafrenid@gespro.com
Åsa Granlund
Ericsson Software Technology
LM/EPK/R/Z
Box 1248
581 12 Linköping, Sweden
asa.granlund@epk.ericsson.se
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