RECENT ADVANCES in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Adaptive User Interface for Web Applications Hazem M. El-Bakry, Alaa M. Riad, Ahmed E. Hassan, Nikos Mastorakis Mohamed Abu-Elsoud, Samaa Mahmoud S. Kandel, Technical University of Sofia, Mohamed, Faculty of Engineering, BULGARIA Mansoura University, Faculty of Computer Science & Information Systems, EGYPT Mansoura University, EGYPT E-mail: [email protected] Abstract User interface has becoming an essential part in the design of software applications. In order to make it easy to deal with user's current task, it is required to simplify and optimize the user interface. Therefore, in this paper, a new design for adaptive user interface is presented. Furthermore, several issues of user interface design for web applications are described. In addition, the guidelines and architecture for the design of web applications as well as the nature of the web medium are discussed. The basic web application technologies are reviewed. Moreover, the languages and frameworks used in building user interface of web applications are described. The concept that the future of web2 could bridge the gab between desktop and web applications user interface is achieved. The web as a platform and building a web operating system could enhance the user interface for web applications. Keywords: Adaptive User Interface, User Interface Design, User Interface Types, Web User Interface, Web Applications, Web Frameworks. I. Introduction There is a distinct difference between User Interface or Operator Interface and HMI--Human The user interface (also known as human Machine Interface. An HMI is typically local to computer interface or man-machine interface one machine or piece of equipment, and is the (MMI)) is the aggregate of means by which interface method between the human and the people—the users—interact with the system—a equipment/machine. An Operator interace is the particular machine, device, computer program or interface method by which multiple equipment other complex tool. The user interface provides that are linked by a host control system is means of: accessed or controlled. The user interface of a 1. Input, allowing the users to manipulate a mechanical system, a vehicle or an industrial system installation is sometimes referred to as the 2. Output, allowing the system to indicate the human-machine interface (HMI). HMI is a effects of the users' manipulation. modification of the original term MMI (man- To work with a system, users have to be able to machine interface). In practice, the abbreviation control the computer and assess the state of the MMI is still frequently used although some may system. For example, when driving an claim that MMI stands for something different automobile, the driver uses the steering wheel to now. Another abbreviation is HCI, but is more control the direction of the vehicle, and the commonly used for human-computer interaction accelerator pedal, brake pedal and gearstick to than human-computer interface. Other terms control the speed of the vehicle. The driver used are operator interface console (OIC) and perceives the position of the vehicle by looking operator interface terminal (OIT). However it is through the windshield and exact speed of the abbreviated, the terms refer to the 'layer' that vehicle by reading the speedometer. The user separates a human that is operating a machine interface of the automobile is on the whole from the machine itself [43-45]. composed of the instruments the driver can use User interfaces are considered by some authors to accomplish the tasks of driving and to be a prime ingredient of Computer user maintaining the automobile [82-115]. satisfaction. The term user interface is often used in the In science fiction, HMI is sometimes used to context of computer systems and electronic refer to what is better described as direct neural devices where a network of equipment or interface. However, this latter usage is seeing computers is interlinked through an MES increasing application in the real-life use of (Manufacturing Execution System--or Host. ISSN: 1790-5109 190 ISBN: 978-960-474-161-8 RECENT ADVANCES in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (medical) prostheses—the artificial extension of a user interface, as the user must expend effort that replaces a missing body part (e.g., cochlear to remember current mode states, and switch implants). between mode states as necessary [43-45]. The system may expose several user interfaces to serve different kinds of users. For example, a III. Types of User Interface computerized library database might provide two user interfaces, one for library patrons (limited In computer science and human-computer set of functions, optimized for ease of use) and interaction, the user interface (of a computer the other for library personnel (wide set of program) refers to the graphical, textual and functions, optimized for efficiency). auditory information the program presents to the In some circumstance computers might observe user, and the control sequences (such as the user, and react according to their actions keystrokes with the computer keyboard, without specific commands. A means of tracking movements of the computer mouse, and parts of the body is required, and sensors noting selections with the touchscreen) the user the position of the head, direction of gaze and so employs to control the program. on have been used experimentally. This is Currently (as of 2009) the following types of particularly relevant to immersive interfaces [43- user interface are the most common: 45]. 1. Graphical user interfaces (GUI) accept input via devices such as computer keyboard and mouse and provide articulated graphical output II. Characteristics of User Interface on the computer monitor. There are at least two Design different principles widely used in GUI design: The design of a user interface affects the amount Object-oriented user interfaces (OOUIs) and of effort the user must expend to provide input application oriented interfaces. for the system and to interpret the output of the 2. Web-based user interfaces or web user system, and how much effort it takes to learn interfaces (WUI) accept input and provide output how to do this. The user interface has the by generating web pages which are transmitted following characteristics: via the Internet and viewed by the user using a web browser program. Newer implementations 1. Usability: is the degree to which the design of utilize Java, AJAX, Adobe Flex, Microsoft a particular user interface takes into account the .NET, or similar technologies to provide real- human psychology and physiology of the users, time control in a separate program, eliminating and makes the process of using the system the need to refresh a traditional HTML based effective, efficient and satisfying. Usability is web browser. Administrative web interfaces for mainly a characteristic of the user interface, but web-servers, servers and networked computers is also associated with the functionalities of the are often called Control panels. product and the process to design it. It describes 3. Command line interfaces, it is one of the sser how well a product can be used for its intended interfaces that are common in various fields purpose by its target users with efficiency, outside desktop computing , where the user effectiveness, and satisfaction, also taking into provides the input by typing a command string account the requirements from its context of use. with the computer keyboard and the system 2. Modalities and modes: A modality is a path of provides output by printing text on the computer communication employed by the user interface monitor. Used by programmers and system to carry input and output. Examples of administrators, in engineering and scientific modalities: environments, and by technically advanced Input — computer keyboard allows the user to personal computer users. enter typed text, digitizing tablet allows the user 4. Tactile interfaces supplement or replace other to create free-form drawing forms of output with haptic feedback methods. Output — computer monitor allows the system Used in computerized simulators etc. to display text and graphics (vision modality), 5. Touch user interface are graphical user loudspeaker allows the system to produce sound interfaces using a touchscreen display as a (auditory modality) combined input and output device. Used in many The user interface may employ several redundant types of point of sale, industrial processes and input modalities and output modalities, allowing machines, self-service machines etc. the user to choose which ones to use for 6. Attentive user interfaces manage the user interaction. attention deciding when to interrupt the user, the A mode is a distinct method of operation within kind of warnings, and the level of detail of the a computer program, in which the same input messages presented to the user. can produce different perceived results 7. Batch interfaces are non-interactive user depending of the state of the computer program. interfaces, where the user specifies all the details Heavy use of modes often reduces the usability ISSN: 1790-5109 191 ISBN: 978-960-474-161-8 RECENT ADVANCES in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION of the batch job in advance to batch processing, in windows. Dave Collins defines an OOUI as and receives the output when all the processing demonstrating three characteristics: is done. The computer does not prompt for further input after the processing has started. • Users perceive and act on objects 8. Conversational Interface Agents attempt to • Users can classify objects based on how personify the computer interface in the form of they behave an animated person, robot, or other character • In the context of what users are trying (such as Microsoft's Clippy the paperclip), and to do, all the user interface objects fit present interactions in a conversational form. together into a coherent overall 9. Crossing-based interfaces are graphical user representation. interfaces in which the primary task consists in Jef Raskin suggests that the most important crossing boundaries instead of pointing.