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In [109], Frohlich presents a framework for describing the design
space of human computer interfaces. His framework is based on four columns:
the mode, the channel, the medium, and the
style. Inside these, the following items have been identified:
- Modes:
language --- action
- Channel:
audio --- visual --- haptic/kinesthetic
All of these can be combined with both modes.
- Medium:
- Media for the language mode are:
speech --- text --- gesture
- Media for the action mode are:
sound --- graphics --- motion
- Style:
- Styles in the language mode are:
programming language --- command language --- natural language ---
field filling --- menu selection
- Styles in the action mode are:
window --- iconic --- pictorial
Frohlich states that the information in interfaces based on the language
mode is used symbolically, whereas in interfaces based on action
mode it is used more literally. The application of each style to
each medium within a given modality suggests that styles are modality
specific rather than medium specific, although they are not completely
medium independent. The two main advantages of this framework, according to
Frohlich, are
- that they ``help to clarify the terminology used to describe
interfaces and various aspects of their design.'' and
- that they can be used in ``classifying past and present interface
designs.''
In the end, he argues that his framework may be extended in several ways,
naming three potential candidates for new dimensions: tasks,
techniques, and devices. For a multimodal human-computer
interface, these extensions definitely have to be applied.
Esprit Project 8579/MIAMI (Schomaker et al., '95)
Thu May 18 16:00:17 MET DST 1995