Using the results of the observational study, a suitable taxonomy for the virtual user model has been elaborated, which consists of the following partial models:
User Model, where all information about the potential users of the product is stored. Focus is upon exemplary users with mild to moderate physical impairments. The respective user models are divided into several subgroups (profiles), which are divided into different levels of impairments. Additionally there are mixed profiles describing the group of elderly people who are subject to a mixture of hearing, sight and dexterity impairments
Component Model describes specific user interface components and adds functionalities to specific instances. E.g. a button can be pressed, so the button consists of the functional attribute of a switch with two states. This model is also used to connect recommendations with components – especially in the CAD phase, where the designer’s input is related to a component.
Model for Recommendations, where guidelines and experience of the designer are stored. These consist of the predicates “Name”, “Text”, “Summary”, Rules, Phases and an Attachment, where e.g. Sketch Phase Template Layers can be stored. A component attribute defines rule sets for the design phase, if a recommendation is related to a specific component or component functionality like “Audio Output”.
Environment Model, where all data of the environment is stored. That includes the physical conditions of the environment of the real world, objects and characteristics of the environment etc
Task Model, describes how to perform activities to reach a pre-defined goal. This model may be based e.g. on Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) providing an interface, where the designer can define actions of the user for the evaluation in the virtual environment envisaged in the evaluation phase.
Several papers1, 2, 3, 4 and books5, 6 were published in the course of the VICON Project dealing with the conception of the VUM.
For further information please see the Dissemination page (1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 2.1, 2.2) or access the papers directly:
1 Dissemination 1.1 (includes three papers:) 1st paper, 2nd paper, 3rd paper
2 Dissemination 1.3 http://include11.kinetixevents.co.uk/[…]
3 Dissemination 1.6 http://ceur-ws.org/[…]
4 Dissemination 1.9 http://link.springer.com/[…]
5 Dissemination 2.1 http://www.intechopen.com/[…]
6 Dissemination 2.2 http://link.springer.com/[…]