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    Support for decision making on the World Wide Web : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Information Science in Computer Science at Massey University, Turitea Campus, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2004) Alam, Jaimee
    This research explores tool support for information retrieval and comparison of multiple pieces of information on the web. The study identifies the main goals users may have in mind when using the Internet in this way, and the necessary activities users complete to fulfill their goals. The main goals web users have are information search, entertainment and consumer to business transactions. The tasks users perform on the web to fulfill their goals include collecting, comparing, filtering and processing web information. These tasks form a decision-making cycle on the web and depending on the goal at hand, users may or may not necessarily undertake all the tasks or sub-steps in any sequential order. Industry web support tools have been analyzed to find out how effective they are in supporting a common user's activities. These tools include web browsers (Netcaptor Browser and Internet Explorer), editing tools (Notes Pilot and Edit Pad), plug-ins, research tools and window management systems. Both browsers are poor at arranging multiple windows and excellent at opening web sites. The Internet Explorer browser proved to be better than the Netcaptor browser at a number of activities including, selecting web content, copying web text and images and pasting web content into editing documents. When used with either browser. Microsoft Windows is good for arranging windows but poor in switching windows views, scrolling windows and resizing and re-positioning windows. Both editing tools are poor at re-positioning and formatting web content from an HTML environment to a text-based environment. The Notes Pilot tool is also poor in making calculations and returning to the browser. It is excellent at saving work and retrieving old files. The Edit Pad tool is successful at all other activities except re-positioning and formatting web content. It can be seen that tool support is lacking or current web-based tools support the user poorly in a number of areas. The need for an integrated web support tool has been identified. The functional and non-functional requirements have been specified, the tool designed, implemented and evaluated by users. The users were requested to complete a questionnaire and conduct a think-aloud walk-through session while completing three tasks using the integrated web support tool. The sessions were observed and results recorded. Most of the users strongly agreed with the proposition that the tool would be useful for personal or academic activities. The users recognized the tool's novelty, its efficiency, and also indicated an overall level of satisfaction. The users were less satisfied about referring back to web sites, getting the software to do exactly what they wanted and arranging the work space to meet their needs. Changes were made to the tool.
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    The voice activity detection (VAD) recorder and VAD network recorder : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Liu, Feng
    The project is to provide a feasibility study for the AudioGraph tool, focusing on two application areas: the VAD (voice activity detector) recorder and the VAD network recorder. The first one achieves a low bit-rate speech recording on the fly, using a GSM compression coder with a simple VAD algorithm; and the second one provides two-way speech over IP, fulfilling echo cancellation with a simplex channel. The latter is required for implementing a synchronous AudioGraph. In the first chapter we introduce the background of this project, specifically, the VoIP technology, the AudioGraph tool, and the VAD algorithms. We also discuss the problems set for this project. The second chapter presents all the relevant techniques in detail, including sound representation, speech-coding schemes, sound file formats, PowerPlant and Macintosh programming issues, and the simple VAD algorithm we have developed. The third chapter discusses the implementation issues, including the systems' objective, architecture, the problems encountered and solutions used. The fourth chapter illustrates the results of the two applications. The user documentations for the applications are given, and after that, we analyse the parameters based on the results. We also present the default settings of the parameters, which could be used in the AudioGraph system. The last chapter provides conclusions and future work.
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    Speech driven user interface for an intelligent house : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Information Engineering at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2005) Liu, Zhenqing
    Speech driven user interface for an intelligent house is one of a number of Graduate research projects at Massey University. It is part of Project 'Smart House'. This thesis details development of a control system whose inputs are speech signal rather than manual. The control system consists of several sub-systems including speech recognition, command generation, signal transmission, signal reception and command manipulation. The completed speech driven user interface should operate in conjunction with Real-time implementation of a Microphone Array beam-former and Personal identity recognition that were developed concurrently with this project. The speech recognition and command generation subsystems are implemented on a PC whereas the signal transmission, signal reception and command manipulation subsystems are designed at embedded board level. The remote controller can control some electrical appliances, such as TV and CD player, and switch and dim the light.
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    Profile transformation in mobile technology based educational systems : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Science in Information Systems at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2005) Chen, Jueming
    In order to meet the learning needs from various types of students, computer aided education systems try to include new methods to provide personalized education to every student. From the early 1970s, a lot of adaptive educational systems have been created to provide training on a variety of subjects. Combined with the Internet, the adaptive educational systems have become web-based and even more popular. Recently, the development of mobile technology has made the web-based adaptive educational systems accessible through mobile phones. It is necessary that the students can also receive adaptive educational contents on mobile phones. This research project investigated the possible student's preference differences between Personal Computer (PC) and mobile phone, and then proposed a student profile transformation framework to address such differences. This research project conducted two surveys on the student profile transformation between PC and mobile phone. A demo web-based educational system that could be accessed from both PC and mobile phone was also developed for participants of the surveys to give more real and precise responses. Based on Felder-Silverman Learning Style Theory (Felder, 1993; Felder & Silverman, 1988) and the results of the surveys, this thesis proposes a student profile template and a student profile transformation framework, which both fully considered the influences of device capabilities and locations on students' preferences on mobile phones. Furthermore, the proposed framework integrates a solution for unsupported preferences and preference conflicts. By implementing the proposed template and framework, the students' preference changes between PC and mobile phone are automatically updated according to various device capabilities and locations, and then the students can receive adaptive educational contents that meet their updated preferences.
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    The development of an executable graphical notation for describing direct manipulation interfaces : a dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1993) Phillips, Christopher Henry Edwin
    The research reported in this thesis involves the development of an executable semi-formal graphical notation, Lean Cuisine+, for describing the underlying behaviour of event-based direct manipulation interfaces, and the application of the notation both in 'reverse engineering', and during the early design phase of the interface development life cycle. A motivation for the research stems from the need for tools and techniques to support high level interface design. The research supports and brings together a number of views concerning the requirements of notations at this level. These are that a notation should be semi-formal, graphical, executable, and object-oriented, and that to be most effective it should be targeted at a specific category of interaction. The Lean Cuisine+ notation meets all these criteria, the underlying meneme model matching closely with the selection-based nature of direct manipulation interfaces. Lean Cuisine+ is a multi-layered notation, and is a development of Lean Cuisine (Apperley & Spence, 1989). The base layer is a tree diagram which captures part of the behaviour of an interface in terms of constraints and dependencies between selectable dialogue primitives. Further constraints and dependencies associated with the dynamics of the interface are captured through overlays to the basic tree diagram. An orthogonal task layer captures any temporal relationships between primitive task actions, and provides a link with higher level functionality. Lean Cuisine+ is able to combine both static and dynamic modelling in a coherent manner, thus avoiding the necessity of employing separate and possibly disjoint models at the early design stage. A software support environment for the notation is also specified and partially prototyped. The research demonstrates the advantages of a notation which can be executed to provide limited but valid early simulation of the dynamic behaviour of the interface under design. A mapping from Lean Cuisine+ to a dialogue implementation language, DAL (Anderson, 1993), is also developed in support of the view that a multi-notational approach to interface development is required, and that it must be possible to move easily from initial specification to prototyping and implementation. The Lean Cuisine+ descriptions of aspects of the Apple Macintosh interface included in the thesis show the notation to be capable of handling a range of direct manipulation interaction styles and a variety of interface objects. A five stage methodology for the construction of Lean Cuisine+ specifications for new interfaces is also developed, and applied in two case studies.
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    Metaphor-enabled interface architectures : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Information Sciences, Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Quazi, Haseeb
    In today's contemporary society, the most common method in searching for information is through Web Information Systems (WIS). The Internet is open to people regardless of the different backgrounds one may come from e.g. ethnicities, gender, age, culture etc. The Internet is also widely used because of its simple layout and to an extent the language used is easy to understand. Although this may not be true in all cases. Some of the key websites such as e.g. Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia are designed to have easy and quick access to information. Most languages incorporate metaphors and to an extent, so does the Web. Users interact with metaphors and respond to them in different ways and also they can search for information on the Web and use different web-based applications in their daily life such as Internet banking, online flight booking, online libraries etc. The information presented to the users is mainly controlled by the website and it might not be presented in a favourable manner that may suit the user. Metaphors can be introduced into websites to enhance the presentation of the information and the way users interact with websites. The aim of this thesis is to identify an approach where metaphors can be employed as an extension of websites and adapt to the different user types in order to make their interaction with the website more efficient and effective. [From Introduction]
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    A menu interface development environment based on lean cuisine : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1995) Gu, Jianpeng
    The integrated user interface development environment based on the Lean Cuisine graphical notation [Apperley & Spence, 89) is a combination of software tools used to support user interface development from initial design, rapid prototyping through to direct implementation. This thesis describes the development of three software tools used in the integrated user interface development environment. The Lean Cuisine graphical editor (Elc) provides an interactive design environment for graphical specifications of menu-based interfaces and shows that the Lean Cuisine notation described in (Apperley & Spence, 89] has been implemented in a practical computer environment as an interactive interface design tool. The user interface simulator (Slc) is a very effective and reliable interface simulating and testing tool which supports quick and convenient user interface simulation Using Slc, a menu interface can be quickly simulated in its design environment, where a menu-based interface can be partially or wholly simulated and invalid menu structures can be dynamically modified, or in its application environment, where evaluators are given a real feel of how this menu-based user interface works. The user interface generator (Glc) is used to generate basic interface source code files for a user interface from its Lean Cuisine graphical specification file, and a working model of a user interface can be easily and quickly implemented without programming. The integrated user interface development environment based on the Lean Cuisine graphical notation (Apperley & Spence, 89] successfully integrates a graphical notation, the visual programming technique, with an existing programming toolkit and offers advantages over other User Interface Programming Toolkits, language-based UIMSs and current Visual Programming Tools. It supports three main phases (design, prototyping and implementation) of the graphical user interface development lifecycle. This approach has not been found in previous user interface development tools and user interface management systems.
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    Managing user interface pattern collections : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2006) Deng, Junhua
    The research presented in this thesis describes the development of a comprehensive UI pattern management tool, MUIP, to support researchers and UI designers manipulate and explore a repository of UI pattern collections. The concept of patterns originated from Alexander's pattern language for the architecture domain. Later, the software development and HCI communities adopted the pattern concept. Many disparate UI pattern collections have been developed and published using various media, such as books, internet, etc. Various pattern formats were used in these collections. In 2003, to cope with this problem, a group of HCI researchers developed a standardised pattern form, called PLML. Researchers have authored patterns, investigated the characteristics of pattern collections and also identified many of the functions required to manage pattern collections. A framework for MUIP has been developed in the light of the analysis of the relevant literature and a survey of existing pattern tools. The framework supports the following features: pattern authoring, manipulating forces, browsing patterns, searching patterns, versioning and customising patterns, relating patterns, manipulating collections and importing or exporting patterns. Patterns are described using the standard pattern form (PLML). An enhanced version of PLML, called PLML vl.2, has been developed so that pattern contents can be organised more effectively. Based on this framework, a specification of a comprehensive pattern management system for manipulating pattern collections was developed and a prototype implemented accordingly. A formal evaluation confirmed the usefulness of the prototype.
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    Design and evaluation of text-free map interfaces : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Technology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) Bao, Bojian
    The aim of this research is to design and evaluate a text-free online map interface for illiterate people and non-local-language speakers. The use of online maps is developing rapidly and while a large majority of people are using these applications, there are many illiterate people who find them extremely difficult to use due to their inability to read the text on the maps. Symbols and audio are two methods that can be used to replace the reliance on traditional text. The research conducts two surveys to define the suitable symbol type and identify features for online map design; designs a set of text-free online map applications and finally, evaluates each designed map application based on a sample of 90 participants (Native English Speakers, non-English Speakers and Illiterate People). The results illustrate that illiterate people find it more difficult to use the online map application compared with literate people. Text-free online map interfaces are necessary to support illiterate people and the map that included both symbol and audio was the most suitable type of text-free online map.
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    An evaluation of conversational interfaces for pedestrian navigation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Technology, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Longprasert, Nattakan
    The aim of this research was to compare the performance between the OsmAnd application and three types of conversational interface, to test whether the conversational interface is a more preferred navigation tool. We designed and tested four different navigation systems; the map with command interface, the conversational-only interface, the conversational with map interface, and the conversational with image interface. The research involved 100 participants who had different levels of experience when using navigation systems. Participants were divided into three groups and were given different navigation interfaces. This research was conducted with both quantitative and qualitative usability testing along a pre-defined route in Massey University campus, combined with a USE questionnaire to gain the user’s feedback. The results indicated that both the OsmAnd and the conversational interface were good in different criteria. However, most participants preferred using the conversational interface more than the visual interface.