Dynamic construction of animated help from application context

ABSTRACT

Help provided as traditional text descriptions has become incompatible with graphical interfaces. Animation suggests a better association between help and a graphical interface. This paper describes a prototype system implemented to demonstrate the use of dynamic scenarios as help. A scenario animates the execution of a task as a sequence of steps in the actual interface and work context. Each scenario is dynamically generated depending on the current work context of the user. The system reasons from the user's request for help as well as from the context what and how much to animate. In addition to the animation driving mechanism, construction of animated help requires knowledge about application semantics, user interface semantics, user interface syntax and application context. The application semantics determines the steps needed to satisfy the help request. The user interface semantics determines whether the current state of the graphical interface will support the appropriate animated help scenarios. The user interface syntax gives detailed information on how each step will actually be performed. Preconditions are used in both application and user interface semantics for reasoning in help construction. The restoring of context is performed using help session history data to return to the original work context after an animation session. The implemented example uses a directory tree program where the graphical interface is kept simple. In future research the concept will be applied to more complicated applications.

REFERENCES

• Carroll 87: John M. Carroll , Jean McKendree, Interface design issues for advice-giving expert systems, Communications of the ACM, v.30 n.1, p.14-32, Jan. 1987 [doi>10.1145/7885.7886]
• Chin 85: D. N. Chin, User modeling in UC, the UNIX consultant, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.24-28, April 13-17, 1986, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• Cullingford 82: Cullingford, R.E., Krueger, M.W., Selfridge, M. and Bienkowski, M.A., "Automated Explanations as a Component of a Computer-Aided Design System," IEEE Transactions on System, Man and Cybernetics, March/April 1982, pp. 168-181.
• Feiner 85: Feiner, Steve, "APEX: An Experiment in the Automated Creation of Pictorial Explanations," IEEE Transacfions on Computer Graphics and Applications, November 1985, pp. 29-37,
• Fenchel82: Fenchel, R.S. and Estrin, G., "Self-Describing Systems Using Integral Help," IEEE Transactions on System, Man and Cybernetics, March/April 1982, pp. 162-167.
• Foley 88: J. Foley , C. Gibbs , S. Kovacevic, A knowledge-based user interface management system, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.67-72, May 15-19, 1988, Washington, D.C., United States [doi>10.1145/57167.57178]
• Hecking 87: Hecking, Matthias, "How to Use Plan Recognition to Improve the Abilities of the Intelligent Help System SINIX Consultant," Proceedings INTER- ACT'87,2nd lFlP Conjerence on Human- Computer Interaction, 1987, pp. 657-662.
• Hill 87: Hill, WC. and Miller, J., ."Justified Advice: A Semi-Naturalistic Study of Advisory Strategies," MCC Technical Report No. ACA-HI-297-87, Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation:Austin, Texas, September 1987.
• Kemke 87: Kerr&e, Cl-uistel, "Representation of Domain Knowledge in an Intelligent Help System," Proceedings INTER- ACT'87,2nd IFIP Conference on Human- Computer Interacfion, 1987, pp. 215-220.
• Lieberman 87: H. Lieberman, An example-base environment for beginning programmers, Artificial intelligence and education; vol. 1: learning environments and tutoring systems, Ablex Publishing Corp., Norwood, NJ, 1987
• Matthews 85: Matthews, M. and Bismas, G., "OR- ACLE: A Knowledgeable User Interface," Proceedings 9th International Computer Software and Applications Conference (COMPSAC), October 1985, pp. 287-294.
• Miller 87: Miller, J.R., Hill, W.C., McKendree, J., Masson, M.E.J., Blumenthal, B., Terreen, L. and Zaback, J., 'The Role of the System Image in Intelligent User Assistance," Proceedings INTER- ACT'87,2nd IFIP Conference on Human- Computer Interaction, 1987, pp. 885-890, also MCC Technical Report No. H&207- 87, Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation:Austin, Texas, 1987.
• Moran 87: Moran, L. and Sukaviriya, I'., "Cross- Cultural Influence on Command Language Syntax Choice in Interactive Graphics," Report GWU-IIST-87-02, Department of EE&CS, The George Washington University, Washington, DC., 1987.
• Schank 77: Schank, R.C. and Abelson, R.P., Scripfs, Plans, Goals and Understanding, Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc.: Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1977.
• Schmidt 78: Schmidt, C.F., Sridharan, N.S. and Goodson, J.L., 'The Plan Recognition Problem: An Intersection of Psychology and Artificial Intelligence," Ariificial Intelligence, 11,1978, pp. 45-83.
• Senay 87: Hikmet Senay, A knowledge-based approach to design intelligent interfaces, 1987
• Wilensky 84: Robert Wilensky , Yigal Arens , David Chin, Talking to UNIX in English: an overview of UC, Communications of the ACM, v.27 n.6, p.574-593, June 1984 [doi>10.1145/358080.358101]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.7 Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism
          Subjects: Animation

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.4 Graphics Utilities
          Subjects: Application packages

General Terms:
Design, Performance