Interactions in Smart Environments and the Importance of Modelling
Peter Forbrig · 2012
One challenge in software engineering is the development of smart environments that help users to intuitively accomplish their tasks. The ideal smart environment dynamically manages a diverse collection of devices, is accessible by multiple users and effectively supports the users’ tasks. The design of smart environments relies on detailed models of devices, users and their tasks. In this paper, we present our modelling language “CTML” specifically developed for smart environments. We demonstrate how the language was designed and how it was used for usability evaluations in a virtual smart environment. We then discuss the importance of “task migrateability” – a usability principle often neglected by contemporary smart environments. We argue that the proper implementation of this usability criterion can improve the usability of smart environments. Finally, we investigate how tangible user interfaces are related to smart environments and how this interaction technique can be used to support task migrateability.