Title: The IMML VDE: models, languages and tools to develop interactive systems

Authors: Jair C. Leite, Lirisnei Sousa

Addresses: DIMAp, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av, Sen. Salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitario, Natal, RN, 59072–970, Brazil. ' DIMAp, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av, Sen. Salgado Filho, 3000, Campus Universitario, Natal, RN, 59072–970, Brazil

Abstract: In this paper, we present a communication-oriented user interface design language to guide the design of interactive systems. Our approach is motivated by semiotic engineering, a theory of human–computer interaction that assigns to both designers and users the same role in an overall communicative process. We have developed a communicative-oriented set of models, languages and tools to help the development of interactive systems. The Interactive Message Modeling Language (IMML) Visual Development Environment (VDE) is composed of semantic models, the IMML and Visual IMML languages, and tools to translate from a specification to a final user interface. IMML is a markup language to specify an interactive system. Visual IMML is an UML profile to the IMML. The tools translate the IMML specifications to browser-based user interfaces. Our approach is also a methodological tool that attempts to structure a solution space for designer–user communication considering the semiotic engineering theory.

Keywords: User Interface Description Languages; UIDL; XML based languages; user interface specification; model-based user interface development; semiotic engineering; interactive systems; human–computer interaction; HCI; visual IMML.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWET.2008.018097

International Journal of Web Engineering and Technology, 2008 Vol.4 No.2, pp.183 - 206

Published online: 01 May 2008 *

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