Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
and extract useful information about both their processing tasks and the
interaction status. So a new generation of adaptive interfaces is being
developed right now.
5.2
Usability issues and technology changes
Usability problems in UC cannot be solved in any situation. GUIs are not
always at disposal in UC systems, while interaction cannot be limited to a
classical display-keyboard-mouse arrangement. Moreover, there are no
more expert users; we are not sure that either the user wants to use
particular software or has the required skills to use it. In general, UC
frameworks are general-purpose systems. They are intended to satisfy
heterogeneous requests from very different people with regard to compe-
tency and skills.
Users would not always interact with visual devices or they will be
unable to do that. UC systems will make use of different communication
modalities like biometry or speech recognition so that the system will interact
autonomously with the user, which would not care of being understood by
the machine.
Severe modification in both hardware and software systems are needed.
AI and user modelling can help the designer on the software side, while new
interaction devices are needed on the hardware side that allow the user to
achieve natural interaction.
6
Portability
6.1
Why 'information portability'?
At first, one might think that information portability is aimed to complete
interoperability between heterogeneous wired and wireless communication
systems. The main goal of portability is allowing any user to access
their workstation whenever, wherever and using whatever terminal. As a
consequence, the users are enabled to use their office automation tools and
access enterprise data and the information they are interested in.
Internet represented a first step towards information portability. Wireless
devices represent another crucial improvement; they ensure connection
regardless the actual position of the user.
Mobile devices do not imply portable information. In general, a mobile
terminal is intended for access to particular services and allows limited
portability. A true mobile terminal has to provide the user with Internet
connection, to be equipped with a minimal application suite and to be able to
