GVU Technical Report Number:
GIT-GVU-93-20
Title:
User Interface Specification Using an Enhanced Spreadsheet Model
Authors:
Scott E. Hudson
Abstract:
This paper describes a new interactive environment for user interface
specification which is based on an enhanced spreadsheet model of
computation. This environment allows sophisticated graphical user
interfaces with dynamic feedback to be implemented with little or no
explicit programming. Its goal is to support user interface
specification by non-programming experts in human factors, visual design,
or the application domain. In addition, the system is designed to allow
sophisticated end-users to modify and customize their own interfaces. The
system is based on a data flow model of computation. This model is
presented to the interface designer in the form of a spreadsheet enhanced
with new constructs for easier programming and reuse. These constructs
include an improved interactive programming environment, a
prototype-instance based inheritance system, support for composition,
abstraction, and customization using indirect references, the addition of
support for graphical inputs and outputs, and support for the encapsulation of
application data structures and routines within system objects.
Keywords:
Languages, human factors, user interface management systems, interface
builders, end-user programming, direct manipulation, semantic feedback,
automatic display update, constraint systems, prototype-instance based
inheritance
You can access this technical report via:
PDF
Postscript
|
