Automated User Interface Modeling and Analysis Program
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for designing user interfaces lack an automated process that integrates predictive time values and heuristic analysis, leading to time-consuming and error-prone manual techniques, which are inadequate for optimizing task performance across different environments and interface styles.
Innovation Solution
A software program called Modeling and Analysis Program (MAP) that includes a modeler, estimator, and evaluator, which guides users through the design process by creating models, calculating predictive times, and making recommendations for improvements based on heuristic analysis to enhance user interface performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual techniques are used to design user interfaces, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption increases and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates user interface designs by executing a virtual user through scripted actions, eliminating the need for manual design processes. The virtual user autonomously interacts with the interface, and the system automatically captures and analyzes performance data, generating optimized interface designs without human intervention in the execution phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human testing and design processes with an automated virtual user system. The virtual user executes scripted actions, interacts with the interface, and generates performance data automatically, substituting the mechanical process of manual observation and measurement with automated computational processes.
2Loss of time
If automated modeling is implemented, then time consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the user interface design process into separate modular components: a virtual user that executes actions, a performance capture mechanism that records interactions, an analysis module that processes data, and a presentation layer that generates results. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual user system serves multiple functions: it executes test scenarios, interacts with the interface under test, captures performance data, and validates against criteria. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized tools, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive testing capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If heuristic analysis is performed manually, then depth of analysis is maintained, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures performance data during every virtual user interaction and automatically analyzes it against heuristic criteria. This continuous automated analysis eliminates the need for periodic manual review, maintaining consistent analysis depth while reducing resource consumption through efficient automated processing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A Modeling and Analysis Program (MAP) having a modeler, an estimator, and an evaluator is disclosed. The MAP guides the user through the design process. The modeler takes the user's input of a process diagram and creates a model organized by pages. An estimator is applied to the model to calculate the performance along the pages on each path in the model. The performance is compared to criteria. If the performance is not within a range acceptable to the user, then an evaluator is invoked. The evaluator makes recommendations for modifications to the model to improve performance.