Formation of the interface structure: possible optimal problems

Discusses the problems that arise in the process of interface design at the initial design stage. At this stage, the main necessary system functions and user scenarios are determined; additionally, a general interface structure is formed, intended for a generalized representation of the future interface, highlighting the main and secondary areas, objects, functions, which identifies the type and direction of connecting components and blocks, as well as a sequence of commands and actions. As a model, the design of the general interface structure is considered as the definition of a number (set) of rules that determine the importance and sequence of using the existing set of functional blocks, which are then treated as vertices of a digraph, while the need to provide (possibility) transitions from one block to another is treated as transitions between vertices of a digraph (arc). A thorough discussion is provided describing in detail the process of constructing a basic graph and determining the necessary parameters of vertices and arcs, based on the integrated use of the relevant experts’ knowledge (users and developers). A number of possible statements of unconstrained optimization problems on the resulting graph and their features are formulated and analyzed. The problems of conditional optimization on the obtained graph are defined and studied. The proposed approach and the solution of optimization problems at the appropriate stages will help to determine the most efficient structure of the interface designed from the point of view of the user and system capabilities, as well as under limited time and other resources to complete tasks.

Authors: P. I. Paderno, D. D. Ryk

Direction: Informatics, Computer Technologies And Control

Keywords: interface, structure, graph, vertices, arcs, parameters, path optimization

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