Abstract:
We have developed an automated reasoning system, called Dynamic Interaction Generation (DIG), which automatically designs and dynamically presents adaptive user interfaces. We have demonstrated DIG in the domain of building management in the form of the DIGBE system. In this report, we focus on the mechanisms we employ to specialize dynamically generated interactions for the situational needs and constraints present in a building operations environment. These constraints are introduced through the control system and domain objects, the users and user roles, the tasks and subtasks that are required, and the need for both anchored and mobile interaction. To adapt the user interface that DIGBE designs for each user and situation, the system uses a combination of mechanisms including role based task composition and object specialization. It responds dynamically by constructing and maintaining realtime models of the system of interest and the user-system interaction, and provides device independence through the separation of interaction and presentation reasoning and the ability for multiple presentation agents to use a single interaction design.