ADVcharts: a visual formalism for interactive systems

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces a new visual formalism, called ADV-charts, for specifying the behavior of interactive systems (including multi-modal interactive systems) by using a state machine approach. ADVcharts combine concepts from Abstract Data Views, with notations from Objectcharts, Statecharts, and Petri-nets. ADVcharts are motivated by the need to provide a formal semantics for the Abstract Data Views concept, while serving as a foundation for a future design methodology for interactive systems. In particular, we show some aspects of design specific to interactive systems, such as the association of input devices with particular Abstract Data Views, the concurrency of the components of a user interface, and the representation of various modes (input and output) in the design of an interactive system.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Theory and methods

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors