Showing papers on "User interface published in 1996"

A Model of the Antecedents of Perceived Ease of Use: Development and Test*

Abstract: The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been widely used to predict user acceptance and use based on perceived ease of use and usefulness. However, in order to design effective training interventions to improve user acceptance, it is necessary to better understand the antecedents and determinants of key acceptance constructs. In this research, we focus on understanding the determinants of perceived ease of use. Data from three experiments spanning 108 subjects and six different systems supported our hypothesis that an individual's perception of a particular system's ease of use is anchored to her or his general computer self-efficacy at all times, and objective usability has an impact on ease of use perceptions about a specific system only after direct experience with the system. In addition to being an important research issue in user acceptance research, understanding antecedents of perceived ease of use is also important from a practical standpoint since several systems in which millions of dollars are invested are rejected because of poor user interfaces. Moreover, the actual underlying problem might be low computer self-efficacy of the target user group. In such cases, training interventions aimed at improving computer self-efficacy of users may be more effective than improved interface design for increasing user acceptance.

The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques

Abstract: From the Publisher: Well-designed graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for business systems can greatly increase user productivity, but designing them can be difficult and time consuming This book walks developers through the basics of good interface design, using real-world examples from systems that are proven successes * Galitz is an internationally recognized consultant, author, and instructor with many years of experience with information systems and user interface design * Written especially for developers who may be designing user interfaces for the first time, but also extremely useful for any developer involved in GUI or Web site design * Revised to reflect the profound enhancements in interface design, specifically how Web page design has revolutionized interface design * New information covers a variety of platforms, both traditional and Web-based

System and method providing a computer user interface enabling access to distributed workgroup members

Abstract: A system and method provides each networked computer user with a user interface displaying visual representations of selected other computer users, generally of those workers in the user's workgroup, and further provides communication mechanisms for efficiently and easily contacting any of the displayed workers. The visual representations of the other users are frequently updated to indicate the activity level of these users. These activity level cues help users predict if the other users are likely to be available for an interaction. The user interface also includes a display portion and mechanism for storing data files and the like so that all workgroup members may accumulate a set data files commonly used by the workgroup, and may transfer files in this manner to other workgroup members. The data files may be stored in association with specific interactive discussion windows, known as chat rooms, or directly in the user interface.

System and method for managing patient medical records

Abstract: A system and method for managing patient medical information to facilitate data management and improve physician access to and recordal of examination data is described. The method comprises a computer aided process including the steps of scheduling appointments, entering and displaying data to a physician, updating the patient data with progress notes concurrently with an examination, displaying allergy warnings and recording a diagnosis based on the progress notes. A common graphic user interface is also disclosed to facilitate operation of the preferred system and method. The system and method are implemented with a relational database operating on data tables which store information input into the user interface.

Computer control system and user interface for media playing devices

Abstract: A computer system and method for controlling a media playing device. The system provides a user interface for allowing a user access to media pieces stored in a media database. The interface is also for controlling a media playing device, like a player piano or movie playing video device, that is coupled to the computer to play the accessed or selected piece of media. In one embodiment there is a computer interface that allows a user to display only music that relates to a selected category, like jazz or classical music. Another embodiment allows the user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to a selected music category. Another embodiment allows a user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to the selected music composer or artist.

Scaling proxy server sending to the client a graphical user interface for establishing object encoding preferences after receiving the client's request for the object

Abstract: A system for enhancing data access over a communications link is disclosed. In accordance with a particular embodiment, a system for retrieving an object over a computer network includes a network client with a browser for rendering an object to a user and a user interface enabling the user to establish an encoding preference. A remote scaling server is coupled between the network client and the computer network, and includes a remote proxy and an encode service provider. The remote scaling server is configured to request a user-specified encoding preference from the network client, retrieve an object from the computer network using the remote proxy, encode the object using the encode service provider in accordance with the requested user-specified encoding preference, and transmit the encoded object to the network client using the remote proxy. The disclosed system thus enables users to dynamically influence the trade-off between quality of content and download speed.

Lua—an extensible extension language

Abstract: This paper describes Lua, a language for extending applications. Lua combines procedural features with powerful data description facilities, by using a simple, yet powerful, mechanism of tables . This mechanism implements the concepts of records, arrays and recursive data types (pointers), and adds some object-oriented facilities, such as methods with dynamic dispatching. Lua presents a mechanism of fallbacks that allows programmers to extend the semantics of the language in some unconventional ways. As a noteworthy example, fallbacks allow the user to add different kinds of inheritance to the language. Currently, Lua is being extensively used in production for several tasks, including user configuration, general-purpose data-entry, description of user interfaces, storage of structured graphical metafiles, and generic attribute configuration for finite element meshes.

Selectively controllable heads-up display system

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for displaying data on a head's-up display screen. Multiple forms of data can be selectively displayed on a semi-transparent screen mounted in the user's normal field of view. The screen can either be mounted on the user's head, or mounted on a moveable implement and positioned in front of the user. A user interface is displayed on the screen including a moveable cursor and a menu of computer control icons. An eye-tracking system is mounted proximate the user and is employed to control movement of the cursor. By moving and focusing his or her eyes on a specific icon, the user controls the cursor to move to select the icon. When an icon is selected, a command computer is controlled to acquire and display data on the screen. The data is typically superimposed over the user's normal field of view.

Discovering generalized episodes using minimal occurrences

Abstract: Sequences of events are an important special form of data that arises in several contexts, including telecommunications, user interface studies, and epidemiology. We present a general and flexible framework of specifying classes of generalized episodes. These are recurrent combinations of events satisfying certain conditions. The framework can be instantiated to a wide variety of applications by selecting suitable primitive conditions. We present algorithms for discovering frequently occurring episodes and episode rules. The algorithms are based on the use of minimal occurrences of episodes; this makes it possible to evaluate confidences of a wide variety of rules using only a single analysis pass. We present empirical results on the behavior of the algorithms on events stemming from a WWW log.

Internet based distance learning system for communicating between server and clients wherein clients communicate with each other or with teacher using different communication techniques via common user interface

Abstract: A novel user-friendly method of and system for integrating the use of a plurality of different communication techniques for over-the-Internet interfacing between a central server storing a plurality of different information topics and user identification information and a plurality of independent user computer stations which have selected common information topics and are widely geographically separated, for such purposes as information and dialog networking of schools and other groups with common topic interests, and enabling real-time intercommunication amongst such users and with the server, and including growing the information on the selected topics through Internet feedback to the server of user dialog and supplemental information relating thereto; the method creating a virtual common room atmosphere for all the users (such as the same virtual classroom) wherein, irrespective of the diverse geographical locations and actual distances of the varied user stations from one another and from the central server, real-time interactions are enabled amongst all simulating as if the users were all actually in the same room at the same time and participating together.

Interactive contents revealing storage device

Abstract: A Document Card (DocuCard) for storing documents and which is content revealing. The DocuCard is a transportable unit having a nonvolatile storage means for storing information in a digital form, a control processor for processing user initiated functions; an I/O port for interfacing to external devices for reading and writing digital information, and a user interface for allowing a user to directly interact with the DocuCard. The user interface on the DocuCard includes a display for displaying lists of functions and documents and information responsive to user invoked functions and a user input portion for allowing a user to traverse the lists of functions and documents, as well as information generated responsive to an invoked function. The control processor of the present invention include features for controlling access to documents stored therein.

Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing program listings during non-peak times

Abstract: An interactive entertainment network system has a program provider, multiple user interface units in individual homes, and a distribution network interconnecting the program provider and the user interface units. The program provider has a storage medium containing a plurality of program data records which contain programming information about the programs provided by the program provider. An electronic program guide (EPG) executes on each user interface unit. The EPG requests the program data records from the storage medium at the program provider and displays the programming information contained in the program data records. To prevent burdensome demand during certain high activity peak time when a plurality of the electronic program guides are likely to concurrently request the program data records, the program provider transmits at least some of the program data records to a plurality of the user interface units prior to a peak time. The program provider initiates this transmission on its own, and not in response to a request from any EPG. The user interface units store the program data records in a record cache for use by the EPG during the ensuing peak time. In this manner, the EPG can display the programming information contained in the stored program data records during the peak time, rather than requesting the information from the program provider.

Multimedia coordination system

Abstract: In a network, a media coordination system provides secure multimedia communication channels in a collaborative network environment. The media coordination system provides automatic encryption, dynamic interconnection of streams of data, and user interface elements that provide users with control over the ultimate destination of their audio and video data. The infrastructure of the system includes a plurality of client workstations that are connected to a central server using point-to-point network connections. The central server maintains a persistent virtual world of network places with objects located therein. Streams of audio and video data are coordinated between client workstations operating in the persistent virtual world by a key manager object using channels, transmitters, and receivers. The client workstations multicast their audio and video data over the network to defined recipients after receiving a multicast address and an encryption key for a specific multicast channel. In order to protect the privacy of all communications and the integrity of the coordination system, each client workstation retains significant control over distribution and reception of audio and video data since multicast transmission is tied to specific user interface elements. The multimedia user interface elements include cameras, speakers, microphones, and video panes. Since the central server only coordinates where audio and video data is broadcast for a particular interface element, each client workstation ultimately controls the destination of multimedia data through selection of the element at the user interface.

Comic Chat

Abstract: Comics have a rich visual vocabulary, and people find them app ing. They are also an effective form of communication. We ha built a system, called Comic Chat, that represents on-line com nications in the form of comics. Comic Chat automates numer aspects of comics generation, including balloon construction layout, the placement and orientation of comic characters, the fault selection of character gestures and expressions, the incorp tion of semantic panel elements, and the choice of zoom facto the virtual camera. This paper describes the mechanisms Comic Chat uses to perform this automation, as well as novel pects of the program’s user interface. Comic Chat is a working program, allowing groups of people to communicate over the Inter It has several advantages over other graphical chat programs cluding the availability of a graphical history, and a dynamic grap ical presentation.

System and method enabling awareness of others working on similar tasks in a computer work environment

Abstract: A computer system and method provide networked computer users with information about which other users are task proximate to the user, thereby facilitating spontaneous communications regarding task-related, or other, issues. The information about other users is displayed in a user interface window on each computer that presents a visual representation of each user who is task proximate to the user operating the computer. Task proximity to other users may change as the user context switches between applications, and the user interface window is updated accordingly. Task proximity is determined individually by different applications. One exemplary system architecture for providing the information includes a person object representing each user, and storing the visual representation of the user. An encounter window on each computer displays the visual representations. A number of encounter-aware applications may execute on each computer. An encounter server on each computer provides communication between the encounter-aware applications of the positions of each user, position being determined, for example, by the function the user is using, the data, and the time. At least one encounter-aware application includes a match object that accepts information from the encounter servers about user positions and determines the task proximity of the users. The match object informs the encounter server of the task proximity of the user. The encounter server then updates the appropriate encounter window. The encounter windows further provide a number of communication mechanisms so that users can efficiently contact those other users who are task proximate.

Finding skin in color images

Abstract: This paper describes the techniques used to separate the hand from a cluttered background in a gesture recognition system. Target colors are identified using a histogram-like structure called a Color Predicate, which is trained in real-time using a novel algorithm. Running on standard PC hardware, the segmentation is of sufficient speed and quality to support an interactive user interface. The method has shown its flexibility in a range of different office environments, segmenting users with many different skin-tones. Variations have been applied to other problems including finding face candidates in video sequences.

Modular wireless diagnostic, test, and information system

Abstract: A computer-based apparatus provides access to complex technical information needed, for example, to maintain and repair complicated equipment, such as a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a combined user interface and main control module to communicate with at least one remotely operated instrumentation module to control and obtain data by wireless communication. The combined user interface and main control module has an interactive display which enables the user to command the functions of the remotely deployed instrumentation module(s) and enter data through interaction with the display, as well as executes diagnostic application programs and displays information to the user. Alternatively, a separate user interface module and main control module connected by wireless communication can be provided, in which the user interface module not only commands the functions of the instrumentation module(s), but also commands remote execution of diagnostic application programs by the main control module.

Computer apparatus and method for providing a common user interface for software applications accessed via the world-wide web

Abstract: The present invention provides the capability to easily access many different application programs over the WWW via a common user interface. By providing standard procedures, routines, tools, and software "hooks" for accessing software applications over the WWW, software developers can concentrate on the functionality of the application program and easily use HTML to provide a GUI interface for the application program. HTML is a well-known language which can be used by almost any computer system on the market today. In addition, since HTML is a fairly well controlled and standardized language, new software application features can be added as they are developed and supported by HTML. In addition, since HTML is a widely adopted, non-proprietary technology, the present invention can provide open access to a large market for even very small software developers. Further, the present invention also allows software developers to adopt a standard access protocol, which allows them to provide support for any computer system which is capable of utilizing a HTML cognizant browser. Finally, by providing easy-to-implement, standardized solutions to the issues of user interface, authentication/security, and web transaction support, the common user interface of the present invention overcomes the limitations existing in previous solutions.

User interface controller for text-to-speech synthesizer

Abstract: An application-independent, text-to-speech control system which employs an easy-to-use transport from which a user can control most text-to-speech conversion functions without prior training. It provides a control means by which user designated areas may be sequentially selected, stored and played. Furthermore, moving back and forward through user-selected text may be controlled by the user, with the synthesized speech output maintaining the proper pauses and inflections.

Video control user interface for controlling display of a video

Abstract: A video control user interface is provided for use in an interactive television system. The video control user interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-purpose, multi-direction actuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in different modes, including a movie-on-demand mode. In this mode, the set-top box receives digitally transmitted video data streams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. During display of a video movie, the set-top box can cause, at the viewer's request, the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon. The symbols relate to shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie. This user interface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls about the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of the multi-direction pad on the remote control handset. When the viewer wishes to change the viewing mode (such as from "play" to "pause"), the viewer simply depresses the pad at an actuation position that corresponds to a desired shuttle control symbol arranged at approximately the same location relative to the pad-resembling icon that is displayed on the screen. This user interface provides intuitive video control using a multi-purpose actuator, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated shuttle control buttons on the remote control handset.

System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data

Abstract: A system and method causes a computer to detect and perform actions on structures identified in computer data. The system provides an analyzer server, an application program interface, a user interface and an action processor. The analyzer server receives from an application running concurrently data having recognizable structures, uses a pattern analysis unit, such as a parser or fast string search function, to detect structures in the data, and links relevant actions to the detected structures. The application program interface communicates with the application running concurrently, and transmits relevant information to the user interface. Thus, the user interface can present and enable selection of the detected structures, and upon selection of a detected structure, present the linked candidate actions. Upon selection of an action, the action processor performs the action on the detected structure.

Operating system shell having a windowing graphical user interface with a desktop displayed as a hypertext multimedia document

Abstract: An operating system shell provides a graphical user interface having a windowing environment with a desktop. The shell synthesizes a hypertext page for display as the desktop in the graphical user interface. The hypertext page has an embedded software object which provides graphical icon-oriented and menu-driven user interface elements for activating operating system services in the displayed hypertext page. The shell also provides windowed hypertext pages for managing file system folders. The shell synthesizes the hypertext pages from templates which can be edited to incorporate a variety of multi-media enhancements with the user interface elements in the graphical user interface. Templates can be associated with specific folders in the file system to provide folder specific hypertext pages integrated with user interface elements for managing the folder.

Method and apparatus for tactilely responsive user interface

Abstract: A method and apparatus implementing a user interface device, such as a mouse or trackball, having electronically controllable tactile responsiveness which is flexibly programmable. The interface device includes at least two sets of wheels that move as the interface device is actuated. A servo motor (116) is attached to each of the at least two sets of wheels. A position encoder (118) is associated with each servo motor (116) and outputs position information to a controller (120).

Clustering user interface

Abstract: A user is presented with a display map from which the user selects database records of interest. For the records which are in range of the display map's limits, a cluster evaluator groups some of the records into clusters. On the display map, unclustered records are represented by item icons, while clusters are represented by cluster icons. If a user selects an item icon, the associated record is selected and a predetermined action is taken. If a cluster icon is selected, the display map is "zoomed in" to show greater detail around the cluster. Typically, a number of clustered records become unclustered records when the zooming occurs, because the clustering criteria is sharpened. The user can iteratively select clusters, resulting in greater and greater detail, until the user selects an item icon and the predetermined action is taken with that record.

Method and system for managing data while sharing application programs

Abstract: A method and system for managing data (i.e., objects) that are shared by multiple instances of a shared application program. A shared application program is an application program that is executing simultaneously on multiple computers and that has a copy of data that is being shared by each instance of the application program. In particular, each computer maintains a copy of the shared data. When an instance of the application program modifies the shared data, the modifications are sent to the other computers. Each of these other computers stores the data in its copy of the shared data, and each instance of the application program updates its user interface to reflect the modifications to the shared data. Thus, the users of the shared application program can cooperatively modify and view the shared data. For example, multiple users can be executing a word processing program on their computer and sharing a common document. As one user changes the document, the word processing program updates its copy of the shared data. The changes are then transmitted to the other computers so that their copy of the shared data can be updated. In particular, an object management (OM) system is provided that enables shared application programs to manage their copy of the shared data. Each computer has a copy of the OM system. The OM system, under the direction of the shared application program, manages the adding, deleting, and modifying of the shared data. The OM system also controls the transmitting of modifications to the copy of the shared data to the other computers.

Method and apparatus for fleet management

Abstract: The invention provides a system for fleet management having a main process 1501 and client processes 1503, 1505. The system has a graphical user interface user apparatus 1508 having a display and user interface such as a keyboard. The system also uses a main process manager 1501 operably coupled to the display 1508 through a central processor. The child processes include a current report receiver 1503 operably coupled to the display through said central processor, and a history report receiver 1505 operably coupled to the display through the central processor. The child processes are also each operably coupled to a mobile information center, which provides vehicle position data and the like. This vehicle position data are received and transmitted to a fleet of vehicles (e.g., couriers, etc.) through the mobile information center.

Secure platform independent cross-platform remote execution computer system and method

Abstract: A method of operating a computer system including a client computer with a user input mechanism and a display for displaying a user interface including user interface elements, an application server including an operating system and a user application configured to run under the operating system and a network interconnecting the client and the server. The method includes the steps of providing a user interface management program configured to run on the client and receive user events, accessing the application server over the network from the client, sending a request from the client to the server to run the application, running the application on the server to thereby generate user interface element definitions on the server and reporting user interface element definitions to the user interface management program over the network. The method also includes the steps of providing a set of user interface element rules accessible to the user interface management program, where the rules allow the user interface management program to filter user events and decide which can be initially handled on the client to update user interface elements on the client display and which will be forwarded to the server for initial processing and processing reported user interface element definitions in the user interface management program to display on the client user interface elements corresponding to the user interface element definitions.

Visual object present within live programming as an actionable event for user selection of alternate programming wherein the actionable event is selected by human operator at a head end for distributed data and programming

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for linking real-time data with audiovisual content to enable a user to make selections, manipulate data, and to execute functions interactively through an audiovisual display unit based upon audiovisual content being displayed at the time. Audiovisual content is synchronized with the available interactive functions so that the user has the ability to interact with and perform functions related to the audiovisual content being shown at the time. In a preferred embodiment, actionable events in audiovisual programs are synchronized with associated overlay functions and interface data. A method is provided to make overlay functions available to the user through an audiovisual display during the actionable events that occur in a program being viewed by the user. A user interface for each overlay function that may be performed, which user interface may or may not be visible to the user, is overlaid on and synchronized with the program being shown. Interaction with selections may be made using any of several known methods such as a screen menu or a cursor controlled by a remote control device.

Method for generating predictive models in a computer system

Abstract: Data mining system including a user interface 102, a plurality of data sources 114, at least one top-down data analysis module 104 and at least one bottom-up data analysis module 104' in cooperative communication with each other and with the user interface 102, and a server processor 106 in communication with the data sources 114 and with the data analysis modules 104, 104'. Data mining method involving the integration of top-down and bottom-up data mining techniques to extract 208 predictive models from a data source 114. A data source 114 is selected 200 and used to construct 202 a target data set 108. A data analysis module is selected 203 and module specific parameters are set 205. The selected data analysis module is applied 206 to the target data set based on the set parameters. Finally, predictive models are extracted 208 based on the target data set 108.

Network-based intelligent tutoring system

Abstract: A technique for providing a networked, distributed tutorial application having a direct manipulation graphical user interface displayable on an Internet client node is disclosed. The application has a first portion on an Internet server node and a second portion on the Internet client node, the first portion performing application specific subject matter processing and the second portion being substantially application independent in that this second portion is applicable in a wide variety of tutoring applications for generating and maintaining an appropriate user interface during user interactions. The second portion includes an Internet browser (e.g., a hypertext mark-up language browser) that is utilized for communicating with the server node to perform application subject matter specific processing. A user being tutored may create, delete or modify graphical objects whose data structure definitions are provided by the server node, each such object having, for example, a behavior or data structure representing the semantics of a tutorial subject matter entity. Such user interactions are accumulated and utilized on the client node to maintain, independently of any communication with the server node, an interactive user interface semantically consistent with both the tutorial application and the user's interactions.