Clip, connect, clone: combining application elements to build custom interfaces for information access

Jun Fujima, Aran Lunzer, Kasper Hornbæk, Yuzuru Tanaka

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapportBidrag til bog/antologiForskningpeer review

Abstract

Many applications provide a form-like interface for requesting information: the user fills in some
fields, submits the form, and the application presents corresponding results.
Such a procedure becomes burdensome if (1) the user must submit many different requests, for
example in pursuing a trial-and-error search; (2) results from one application are to be used as inputs
for another, requiring the user to transfer them by hand; or (3) the user wants to compare results,
but only the results from one request can be seen at a time. We describe how users can reduce
this burden by creating custom interfaces using three mechanisms: clipping of input and result elements
from existing applications to form cells on a spreadsheet; connecting these cells using formulas,
thus enabling result transfer between applications; and cloning cells so that multiple requests can
be handled side by side. We demonstrate a prototype of these mechanisms, initially specialized for
handling Web applications, and show how it lets users build new interfaces to suit their individual
needs.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelNo code required : giving users tools to transform the web
RedaktørerAllen Cypher, Mira Dontcheva, Tessa Lau, Jeffrey Nichols
Antal sider20
ForlagMorgan Kaufmann
Publikationsdato2010
Sider153-172
Kapitel8
ISBN (Elektronisk)978-0-12-381541-5
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2010

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