Abstract
This paper discusses various issues related to seamless and transparent middleware design and evaluation. The research described here is part of the NOMAD project which is aimed to develop and demonstrate middleware capable of seamlessly integrate available and future technologies into a single integrated platform. The project is currently in the system pilot and field trial stage. The general objective is to test the adequacy of components of the system architecture. This paper concentrates on user and usability issues; the main contribution is the description of a new way to evaluate, from the end user’s point of view, the desirability of a mobile device user interface in the context of seamless and transparent technology. The first sample scenario to be studied was related to discovery and seamless combination of services. Several test persons completed the scenario. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were be used in the study; the three major methods were observation, interviewing and survey-questionnaire. Preliminary test results are promising but they also indicate that some design adjustments to the NOMAD service discovery client user interface will be necessary.
Citation
Laakso, M., and Repokari, L. (2004) Design and Evaluation of Seamless and Transparent Middleware., in Redmond, J., Durling, D. and de Bono, A (eds.), Futureground - DRS International Conference 2004, 17-21 November, Melbourne, Australia. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2004/researchpapers/139
Design and Evaluation of Seamless and Transparent Middleware.
This paper discusses various issues related to seamless and transparent middleware design and evaluation. The research described here is part of the NOMAD project which is aimed to develop and demonstrate middleware capable of seamlessly integrate available and future technologies into a single integrated platform. The project is currently in the system pilot and field trial stage. The general objective is to test the adequacy of components of the system architecture. This paper concentrates on user and usability issues; the main contribution is the description of a new way to evaluate, from the end user’s point of view, the desirability of a mobile device user interface in the context of seamless and transparent technology. The first sample scenario to be studied was related to discovery and seamless combination of services. Several test persons completed the scenario. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were be used in the study; the three major methods were observation, interviewing and survey-questionnaire. Preliminary test results are promising but they also indicate that some design adjustments to the NOMAD service discovery client user interface will be necessary.