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From: ncliffe@hfserver.hfnet.bt.co.uk (Nigel Cliffe)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: adaptive user interfaces
Message-ID: <1991Jun19.073731.13715@hfnet.bt.co.uk>
Date: 19 Jun 91 07:37:31 GMT
References: <3320@sparko.gwu.edu>
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From article <3320@sparko.gwu.edu>, by braudes@seas.gwu.edu (Bob Braudes):
> Another major issues with adaptive user interfaces, when using the AI
> domain, is determining when and how to change the UI.  Assume that the
> interface controller had decided, through whatever means, that the user
> is now "ready" for a new interface.  How is the change made?  You
> probably don't want to surprise the user by doing it automatically;
> imagine using your favorit program and suddenly all of your commands
> no longer work (obviously this is at the extreme end of change, but is
> used to show the point.)  Do you prompt the user in the middle of a session,
> or wait until the next time the program is invoked?  How is this implemented on
> multi-user systems; it appears to require some sort of logon.
> 
> I strongly believe in adaptive interfaces; however, there are a lot of 
> basic issues which need to be addressed before they can become practical.

It might be useful to get hold of the UK Alvey reports on the Adaptive
Intelligent Dialogues (AID) project. This project addressed the issues of
adaption in a user interface. The work was done about 4 or 5 years ago.
Unfortunately I don't have the papers, or the references.

(For those who don't know, the Alvey programme was a UK initiative to 
promote research in IT, by collaboration between academic and commercial
organisations).

- Nigel.
--
                     Nigel Cliffe, Human Factors, 
         BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 7RE, UK
         Email: ncliffe@hfnet.bt.co.uk    Tel: +44 (0)473 645275