Comments

Copyright © IGI Global 2010 www.igi-global.com posted here by permission of the publisher. This is the published article which appeared in the International Journal of Ambient Computing and Intelligence. The published version is also available to purchase from the publishers website, IGI Global at http://www.igi-global.com/article/international-journal-ambient-computing-intelligence/46022 DOI: 10.4018/jaci.2010070103

The Easyline+ website is located at http://www.easylineplus.com/

Abstract

This paper describes the user interface design, and subsequent usability evaluation of the EU FP6 funded Easyline+ project, which involved the development of ambient assistive technology to support elderly and disabled people in their interaction with kitchen appliances. During this process, established usability design guidelines and principles were considered. The authors’ analysis of the applicability of these has led to the development of a new set of principles, specifically for the design of ambient computer systems. This set of principles is referred to as SCUFF, an acronym for simplicity, consistency, universality, flexibility and familiarity. These evaluations suggest that adoption of the SCUFF principles was successful for the Easyline+ project, and that they can be used for other ambient technology projects, either as complementary to, or as an alternative to more generic and partially relevant principles.

Disciplines

Computer and Systems Architecture | Computer Engineering | Digital Communications and Networking | Hardware Systems | Systems and Communications

Recommended Citation

Picking, R., Grout, V., McGinn, J., Crisp, J. & Grout, H., “Simplicity, consistency, universality, flexibility and familiarity: the SCUFF principles for developing user interfaces for ambient computer systems”, International Journal of Ambient Computing and Intelligence, July-September 2010, Vol. 2, Issue 3, pp40-49.