Transcript Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS applications

Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS
Applications According to Human Computer
Interaction Guidelines
Jens Ingensand
GIS Research Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
(EPFL)
[email protected]
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
1 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles
A set of theories and methods with one principal goal:
Minimizing the users cognitive load
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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)
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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)
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Goals:
- parcel-management-system for winegrowers
- based on open-source GIS modules
- using HCI-guidelines
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Technologies:
- MapServer
- PhP
- Postgresql/Postgis
- Rosa-applet
- Java
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
HCI Problems (example)
Java mode disabled
Click to enable
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
3 Development of an Interface According to HCI
Guidelines
Prototype
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
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
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
Questions?
Comments?
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Developing Interfaces for Open Source GIS Applications According to HCI Guidelines
Thank You!
2004-06-08
Jens Ingensand, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology