Methodologies for the Creation of User Interfaces

CS-TR-96-1

Author: Judy Brown
Source: GZipped PostScript (51kb); Adobe PDF (258kb)


This paper explores the methodologies for the development of interactive systems proposed by software engineers and human-computer interaction specialists. These two disciplines have proposed methodologies emphasizing different aspects of the design process.

The purpose of this paper is to present some of these methodologies and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Methodologies are examined for their ability to facilitate working relationships between members of an integrated design team consisting of both SE and HCI specialists. Through a review of common SE and HCI methodologies, inadequacies of the education system in educating SE and HCI specialists about the roles of other specialists are identified. Differing value systems and work practices in the HCI and SE communities that block the creation of integrated methodologies are explored. Finally, tensions created by issues of power and control of the design process as conveyed through methodological descriptions are examined.

This paper calls for better methodologies that highlight and value the important contributions of both software engineering and HCI designers.


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