Abstract
This paper addresses the problem of the articulation between task modelling and system modelling in the design of interactive software. We aim at providing solutions allowing the software designers to use efficiently task models during the design process, and to check that the software being built actually corresponds to the requirements elicited during the task analysis phase. The proposed approach is twofold: Firstly, we use the User Action Notation, a semi-formal task modelling formalism, and we present a translation scheme allowing to transform the User Action Notation constructs into Petri nets. Secondly, we use the Interactive Cooperative Objects formalism (based on Petri nets and on the object-oriented approach) to build the model of the system. We finally use the mathematical analysis techniques stemming from the Petri net theory to analyse and validate the cooperation between task models and system model. The approach is presented through a case study, showing the User Action Notation task models, the equivalent Petri net models and the Interactive Cooperative Object system model.
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bastide R. (1992) Cooperative Objects: a formalism for modelling concurrent systems. PhD Dissertation. February 1992, (in French).
Bastide R., Palanque Ph. (1995) A Petri Net Based Environment for the Design of Event-Driven Interfaces. 16th International Conference on Application and Theory of Petri Nets (ATPN’95), Lecture Notes in Computer Science n°958, Torino, Italy, 20–22 June 1995.
Brauer W. (Ed.) (1986)Petri nets: Applications and relationships to other models of concurrency. Application and Theory of Petri nets, LNCS 254 & 255, Springer Verlag.
Dix A. (1991) Formal methods for interactive systems. Academic Press.
Feldbrugge F., Jensen K. (1986) Petri net tool overview. 1986. In (Brauer, 1986 ).
Gray P., England D., McGowan S. (1994) XUAN: Enhancing the UAN to capture temporal relationships among actions. Glasgow Interactive Systems cenTre (GIST). Department on Computer Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, G13 1RL.
Hartson H.R., P.D. Gray (1992) Temporal Aspects of Task in the User Action Notation; Human Computer Interaction, Vol. 7, pp 1–45.
Hix D., Hartson H.R. (1993) Developing user interfaces Ensuring; Usability Through Product & Process; John Wiley & Sons, inc.
Kieras D., Polson P.G. (1985) An Approach to the Formal Analysis of User Complexity; International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 15, pp 3–51.
Lautenbach K. (1986) Linear algebraic techniques for Place/Transition Nets. Application and Theory of Petri nets, LNCS 254 & 255, Springer Verlag.
Lim, K. Y., Long, J. B. and Silcock, N. (1990) Integrating Human Factors with Structured Analysis and Design Methods: An Enhanced Conception of the Extended Jackson System Development Method, In Proceedings of INTERACT ’90, eds. D. Diaper et al, Elsevier Science Publishers (North-Holland), pp. 225–230.
Palanque Ph., Bastide R., Sibertin C., Dourte L. (1993a) Design of User-Driven Interfaces using Petri nets and Objects; In proceedings of 5th Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAISE’93). LNCS n° 685, Springer-Verlag.
Palanque Ph., Bastide R., Dourte L. (1993b)Contextual Help for Free with Formal Dialogue Design; Proceedings of (HCI International 93), 5th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction joint with 9th Symposium on Human Interface (Japan), published by North Holland. Orlando, Florida (USA), August 8–15.
Palanque Ph., Bastide R. (1994) Petri net based Design of User-driven Interfaces Using Interactive Cooperative Object Formalism; In proceedings of 1st Eurographics Workshop on Design, Specification and Verification of Interactive Systems — F. Paterno (Ed.) — Carrara, Italy — 8–10 June.
Palanque Ph., Bastide R., Senges V. (1995a) Task model-System model: towards an Unifying Formalism; HCI International’95, 6th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Pacifico, Yokohama, Japan, July 9–14.
Palanque Ph., R. Bastide. (1995b) Verification of an Interactive Software by Analysis of its Formal Specification. Interact’95 IFIP TC 13 conference, Lillehammer (Norway), 27–29 june.
Palanque Ph., Bastide R. (1995c) Formal specification and verification of CSCW using the Interactive Cooperative Objects formalism. Submitted to HCI’95, Huddersfield, 29th of August to 1st September.
Payne S. J., Green T. R. G. (1989) Task Action Grammar: A Model of the Mental Representation of Task Languages; Human-Computer Interaction, 2, pp 93–133–1986.
Scapin D. L., Pierret-Golbreich C. (1989) Towards a method for task description: MAD; Work With display Units’89, Amsterdam, Elseiver.
Sebillote S., Scapin D. (1994) From User’s Task Knowledge to High-Level Interface Specification. Internation Journal on Human-Computer Interaction vol. 6, n°1, pp. 1–15.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Palanque, P., Bastide, R., Sengès, V. (1996). Validating interactive system design through the verification of formal task and system models. In: Bass, L.J., Unger, C. (eds) Engineering for Human-Computer Interaction. EHCI 1995. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34907-7_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34907-7_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-5041-2935-0
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-34907-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive