Tutorial #10

Spatial Metaphors for User Interfaces

Werner Kuhn, Department of Geoinformation, Technical University of Vienna
Brad Blumenthal, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Illinois

Sunday, April 14, full-day

Benefits

You will learn how, when, and why to use spatial metaphors in user interface design. The tutorial provides practitioners with a powerful design tool for spatialized interfaces and researchers with a systematic treatment of spatialization theory.

Origins

This tutorial is new for CHI 96.

Features

cognitive foundations of spatial metaphors
the structuring power of spatial metaphors for interface functionality
principles and techniques of interaction based on spatial objects, relations, and operations
criteria for evaluating spatialized designs
generating and assessing spatial metaphors
key implementation issues
applications for spatial metaphors in operating systems, virtual reality, multimedia gaming worlds, and shared work spaces for computer supported cooperative work

Audience

People interested in graphical user interfaces, multimedia, computer-mediated shared workspaces, virtual reality, and other areas for the application of spatial metaphors to user interface design. Both practitioners and researchers will acquire a new perspective on the role of metaphor in the design and analysis of user interfaces.

Presentation

Lecture, demonstrations, exercises, small group interaction

Instructors

Werner Kuhn is an assistant professor at the Technical University of Vienna where he conducts research on topics in human-computer interaction, the role of metaphors and their formalization, as well as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Brad Blumenthal is currently at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. He has conducted research on multimedia interface design, programming environments for expert programmers, design for usability, and computer-mediated environments.

chi96-webmaster@acm.org / 96-01-02