Towards self-adaptive interface systems

This paper follows a trend towards more user oriented design approaches to interactive computer systems. The implicit goal in this trend is the development of more “natural” systems. Design approaches should aim at a system capable of continuous change by means of suitable agents. The term “soft facade” is used to describe a modifiable interface to a system. Facades vary in softness and agents for change can be the systems designer, the user or an expert system in the facade. In the latter case, the system is called a self-adaptive interface system. The conditions where a self-adaptive interface system is desirable are briefly considered and discussed in relation to a simple example. Recent research in artificial intelligence is mentioned as a possible source of proposed components for a self-adaptive interface system.