Multimodal Interfaces - A Generic Design Approach
Résumé
Integrating new input-output modalities, such as speech, gaze, gestures, haptics, etc., in user interfaces is currently considered as a significant potential contribution to implementing the concept of Universal Access (UA) in the Information Society. UA in this context means providing everybody, including handicapped users, with easy human-computer interaction in any context of use, especially mobility. However, the cost of developing an appropriate specific multimodal user interface for each interactive software is prohibitive. A generic design methodology and generic reusable components are needed to master the complexity of the design and development of interfaces that allow flexible use of alternative modalities and meaningful combinations of modalities, and to take account of constraints in the interaction environment or the user's motor and perceptual capabilities. We present a design approach meant to facilitate the development of generic multimodal user interfaces, and based on best practice in software and user interface design and architecture.