A framework for instrument panel layout construction

Abstract

The goal of this study is to produce techniques to generate alternative UI designs and layouts for systems and their components. This may refer to UI layouts that already exist and those that have yet to be designed. This study will show that UI layouts may benefit from algorithmic reasoning. Consequently, there may be more than one UX/UI design which can do the same role, whilst also increasing human to system interaction efficiency and more optimal designs. The result of this study will greatly increase the possibilities for UX and UI design and help to reduce the development time required whilst still complying with standards [1]. With specific focus on hardware-oriented user interfaces, such as instrument panels found in manufacturing plants, transportation systems and control systems. However the results can also be applied to software interfaces such as tablets. This study faces multiple challenges given the difference between the types of interfaces and the wide array of environments in which they are deployed. Therefore, the ideal focus for this study would be an instrument layout which represents the majority of properties of interfaces found in most domains, whilst also containing attributes which are present in most systems [2]. Aircraft cockpits have been found to contain the widest range of instruments with different interfaces, functions and utilisations; therefore, they are the ideal test subject for this study [3]. Another challenge was on how and by what means would a layout be re-constructed. Different layouts may be specialised and there are different algorithms which may cater for each specialisation [4]. The algorithm which would prioritise certain characteristics required through research and subsequent reasoning. Another challenge encountered is that many interfaces are multi-user, such as those found in aircraft and power-stations. This problem is not part of the scope of this study. The underlying proposed solution resulting from this study is a system which would take an interface as an input and produce multiple new designs using the interface's components. The solution would be produced from algorithms which would break down the interface into smaller components and re-arrange them as necessary in line with specifications. With methods from model-based design, the model is broken down by components and have them valued [5]. From this, an algorithm can use the different valued components to create a new design. This study produced three separate programs. Each program highlights a different aspect of the system. One focuses on displaying attributes and data of a design. Another focuses on producing new designs to be displayed in an instrument cluster. Finally, the last program produces new designs to be displayed and oriented in a limited area. The data is processed through a user-submitted data le in accordance to a template. The result of this study has shown this proof-of-concept is valid and that a user-interface can be modified and improved using this methodology. Subsequently this will improve the design and the development process. This study could be further improved with more research on additional algorithms and further validation of the results of this study and integration for multi-user interfaces [6, 7].