Using Demonstration in User Interfaces

本研究探讨了在计算机程序的用户界面中使用演示技术的效用。演示用户界面提供了用户操作的具体示例，而不是要求用户处理诸如变量和控制结构之类的抽象概念。在演示方法中，用户提供示例，系统推断如何将示例一般化以创建更通用的东西。更成功的方法将推断限制在特定领域。本研究选择了两种应用。一个是文本格式化，另一个是UNIX操作系统的可视化shell。在第二种情况下，宏系统是由基于规则的推理系统创建的，而不使用编程语言。用户通过简单的命令进行交互。系统根据用户的操作决定如何构造更复杂的命令，并给出它关于文件和操作系统细节的知识。这两份申请将向多达3000名受试者发布，以评估潜在的优势和问题。这项研究解决了与更广泛的编程目标相关的问题，包括使计算机系统适应最终用户。

This research investigates the utility of using demonstrational techniques in user interfaces for computer programs. Demonstrational user interfaces provide concrete examples on which the user operates, rather than requiring the user to deal with abstractions such as variables and control structures. In the demonstrational approach, the user provides examples and the system infers how the examples would be generalized to create something that is more general purpose. More successful approaches limit the inferences to a specific domain. Two applications are chosen in this research. One is text formatting and the other is a visual shell to the UNIX operating system. In the second case, a macro system is created without using a programming language by a rule-based inference system. The user interacts with simple commands. The system determines from the user's actions how to construct more complicated commands given also its knowledge about file and operating system details. The two applications are to be released to up to about 3000 subjects providing evaluation of potential advantages and issues. This research addresses issues relevant to broader programmatic goals including making computer systems adapt to end users.