MATCHING USER NEEDS AND TECHNOLOGIES OF DISPLAYS AND GRAPHICS

This survey paper deals with the fundamental changes of user-system interactions caused by new displays and graphics technologies. The information needs of users are explained with examples from industrial process control, train operation and transportation service, aircraft piloting, and computer-aided design. These needs are contrasted with the state-of-the-art in display and graphics technology, particularly with that of visual display units, computer graphics systems, and dialogue techniques. Further, perceptional and cognitive aspects such as readability of character sets, memorization of commands and icons, highlighting and windowing, degrees of abstraction, and information overload are discussed. All these relate to technological solutions for meeting human information needs.