Integrating a cognitive modelling framework into the design process of touchscreen user interfaces

Abstract

Interface design is often constrained by the limited scope and resource-intensive nature of conventional user studies. We aim to unburden this process by introducing an automated user modelling framework that continuously injects design guidelines into the development process. We present a pipeline that converts a given user interface design into a widgetised data structure, executes a performance simulation based on the cognitive model of a user, and analyses its output to give design guidelines. We introduce the research methodology employed to create the model, implementation details of the model, and initial results from its validation. These include the dynamics of age-based modelling, the temporal integrity of the output of the cognitive model, and indications of the accuracy of the overall design guidelines produced.