Reconfiguration of User Interface Models for Monitoring and Control of Human-Computer Systems

Main goal of this work is the design and realization of a platform for reconfiguration of user interface models on a formal basis. The purpose of this platform is to assess the adaption of engineering systems and their computer-based representations from the perspective of applied cognitive science in the context of human-computer interaction studies. To achieve this goal, a new architecture was designed and implemented, called the UIEditor framework. It supports (re-)configuration of user interfaces, editors for creating new user interface models, as well as components for simulation of created user interfaces along with the simulation of the controlled system process. The physical appearance and functional purpose of the user interface distinguish the input side of actions triggering a change in the system's state from the output side that represents the system's current state. The whole concept of formal modeling and reconfiguration is based on a visual language for modeling user interfaces introduced in this work, the semantics of which is defined by an algorithmic mapping to reference nets. This allows a pattern-based and context-dependent reconfiguration, which takes the capabilities and requirements of the user into account and helps to avoid errors in interaction. Owing to the modeling language's generality, it is possible to model, reconfigure and render mobile, distributed, collaborative, and multimodal human-computer interfaces. The reduction of errors in interaction and the increase of user's acceptance and motivation are demonstrated in several evaluation studies in interdisciplinary collaboration with engineering and psychology.