Creating User Interfaces Ideas & Trends Homework: Post constructive comments. Work on project.

Idea: way to view progress Technology driven –solution searching for problem –What is killer ap? Problem driven –problem searching for solution Interaction of two –technology to problem to re-direction of technology

Trends Voice Speech Recognition –general: unrestricted, still coming? –dictation systems in use –directed speech (VoiceXML) substantial use phone: help desks, 800 information, pharmacy car: directions factory –Case of actual problems re-directing research on technology

Trends Immersion / ubiquity (natural speech recognition + access to files & databases) –general: be anywhere (somewhere), ask question and get answer synthesizing information from anywhere including own computer files –search (google + competitors) keywords only. Access to growing number of files (e.g., PowerPoint charts) –Dark web –Semantic Web: still in development

Keywords… … enough in certain cases search (google still ahead of others, notably Ask Jeeves) Ask artist: Jacques Lipchitz

Natural language … or not [false] assumption: best interface is people talking to computers Abdominal study –Technical questions and technical answers –PI said: please don't make me use English

Games Puzzles –new ideas (hexic not quite next tetris) Action –improved plots –improved integration 3D modeling and video: requires improved performance Peer to peer games –improved networking –ideas and marketing –Trend to large communities playing game ??

Meta trend User-centered design –consumer rebellion against products buggy – released too soon? overly complex (fat) –My complaint: want the old Paint Shop Pro back: simple, cheap Open Source –distributed development Maybe not diverse enough

Meta trend Outsourcing / off-shoring –Technical work done by remote group using fixed specifications –Initial motivation costs, eventually skills My theory: IT (information technology professionals) did a poor job relating to actual users & rest of the company so that proximity was not valued.

Meta trend Evaluation of technology –Is it good enough to provide substantial value even if not [close to] perfect / ideal? Phone directed speech / speech synthesis Language translation Google/yahoo/etc. directions/locations

Meta trend / issues Concerns with Viruses Spam –Unwanted cell phone messages: audio or text Privacy (identity theft, insider crime) Problem in search of technology solutions

Meta trend Globalization issues –ICANN remain with US Dept. of Commerce? –Languages –Localization

Web services Applications put together using building blocks –Example: google maps API –Example (maybe): paypal service XML frequently used as format for interface Other?

Capability versus Productivity Capability –can it be done Productivity –do it better, faster, cheaper… –Example: XML, etc. can be used to produce interfaces for multiple platforms from same content in more efficient, less error-prone way.

Grab bag Technology: wireless plus gps (add more functionality to cell phone/PDA) Technology: touch, gesture, eye-movement Problem: identification –individual: voice, non-invasive DNA, etc. –in mass: image recognition: issues of speed and accuracy Problem: understanding of complex data: visualization & techniques for combining data sources

Homework Post constructive comments on other proposals. Work on final project –Remember that you need to test with user(s) and report

Final presentation Repeat: purpose, audience, technology Describe implementation –Diagrams as appropriate Demonstrate program Report on users responses/feedback Describe … what you would do for a production version of application –Scale up issues –Performance Hard copy to hand in –Charts (compressed format) –Other