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A more theoretical approach has been taken by Vicente and Rasmussen.
In [346], they are introducing a framework called EID (
Ecological Interface Design), which is based on the skills, rules,
knowledge taxonomy of cognitive control (see the 3-level model in
the last paragraph. Their method has especially been developed for complex
human-machine systems with direct manipulation interfaces. Therefore, it
could be useful for multimodal systems, too.
At first, they distinguish between three different types of events with
which the user has to deal in complex domains:
- Familiar events: Due to experience, the operator's skills are
sufficient to deal with this type of event.
- Unfamiliar, but anticipated events: Because this type of
event has been anticipated by the interface designer, the operator is
sufficiently supported when it occurs.
- Unfamiliar and unanticipated events: Improvision by the
operator is necessary and might lead to wrong reactions.
The EID has been developed in order to deal with all three kinds of events
and to offer the operator the most appropriate support in any situation.
Therefore, an abstraction hierarchy with multiple levels of cognitive
control, based on the SRK taxonomy, has been used. SRK stands for the three
different levels of cognitive control:
- SBB -- Skill-based behavior: Automated behavioral
patterns are used at this level. SBB's principle is as follows:
``To support interaction via time-space signals, the operator should be
able to act directly on the display, and the structure of the displayed
information should be isomorphic to the part-whole structure of
movements.''
- RBB -- Rule-based behavior: Cognitive control on this level
depends on a set of cue-action mappings with the following principle:
``Provide a consistent one-to-one mapping between the work domain
constraints and the cues or signs provided by the interface.''
- KBB -- Knowledge-based behavior: At this level of cognition,
problem solving operations on a symbolic representation come into
play. Hence, KBB's principle can be formulated like that:
``Represent the work domain in the form of an abstraction hierarchy to
serve as an externalized mental model that will support knowledge-based
problem solving.''
The first two behaviors are concerned with perception and action (which
``is fast, effortless, and proceeds in parallel''), whereas KBB is used in
analytical problem solving on a symbolic representation (which ``is slow,
laborious, and proceeds in a serial fashion''). The latter one will most
often be used when unfamiliar situations arise. When designing an
interface, the user's processing level should be kept as low as possible,
because operation times will be reduced and the process will be less
error-prone.
Next: Intelligent user interfaces
Up: Architectures and
Interaction
Previous: Man-machine communication
Esprit Project 8579/MIAMI (Schomaker et al., '95)
Thu May 18 16:00:17 MET DST 1995