Using a script model to preserve the consistency within an UI design environment

Abstract

Model-based User Interface (UI) development represents a significant evolution in the process of UI Design. Most of currently model-based methodologies start the acquisition process of the interaction description (concrete models) from the task, domain and user descriptions (abstract models). This is basically a process of elicitation and mapping of elements of a model in another one. The major drawback concerning this approach is the lack of definitions of appropriate mechanisms that automatically promote the actualization of the abstract models (source) facing modifications of the concrete models (target). Such lack of actualization introduces inconsistencies between the different models and makes it difficult and even impossible to create the final user interface by doing several iterations over the models being used. In this paper we have proposed mechanisms of maintenance of the consistency between interaction and task models within an UI design environment, MEDITE+. A script model that is intermediate between the model of the task and the model of the interaction supports the definition of these mechanisms. The effects in the involved models using these mechanisms are shown in practical examples.