Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to Human Computer
Interaction Guidelines
Jens IngensandGIS Research Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
(EPFL)[email protected]
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Overview
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
2 Open Source Software and HCI
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Developers
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Overview
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
2 Open Source Software and HCI
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Developers
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
A set of theories and methods with one principal goal:
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
Minimizing the users cognitive load
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
Usability
- Effective to use (effectiveness)
- Efficient to use (efficiency)
- Safe to use (safety)
- Have good utility (utility)
- Easy to learn (learnability)
- Easy to remember how to use (memorability)
(Preece, 2002)
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Overview
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
2 Open Source Software and HCI
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Developers
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
2 Open Source Software and HCI
- The meeting of two different paradigms:
- The open source-developer-user who both uses software and contributes to
its development
- HCI principles that attempts to bridge the gap between programmers and
users through specific techniques
(Nichols & Twidale 2003)
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
2 Open Source Software and HCI
- Is there a usability problem?
- Usability is harder to specify and to distribute than functionality - Open source software projects are often initiated by persons with a technical need- Usability experts seldom get involved in open source projects- Open source projects don’t have the resources to undertake
usability work- Open source software tends to bloat more than proprietary
software
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Overview
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
2 Open Source Software and HCI
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Developers
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Goals:
- parcel-management-system for winegrowers
- based on open-source GIS modules
- using HCI-guidelines
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Technologies:
- MapServer
- PhP
- Postgresql/Postgis
- Rosa-applet
- Java
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
HCI Problems (example)
Java mode disabled
Click to enable
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Prototype
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Overview
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
2 Open Source Software and HCI
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Developers
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
4 Guidelines for Open Source GIS Sevelopers
Problem: many different modules and projects put together
=> Consistency=> Feedback, error-handling and labels=> Focus on the interaction=> Compatibility
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
4 Guidelines for open-source GIS developers
Problem: missing contact to the user=> already a few sample-users can reveal
many problems=> offer possibility to give feedback to the
user=> involvement of other parties
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Questions?
Comments?
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
2004-06-08 Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Thank You!
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines