Intelligent graphic interface design: designing an interactive control room user interface

This paper is a report of activities that lead to the design of an intelligent user interface for use in real-time supervisory control rooms. Users are able to seamlessly interact with and move information among their console displays. The results of five control room studies and the subsequent development of a mock-up of a generic usable user interface are described. Mock-up design and construction was based on information from the control room studies, experience from previous user interface prototypes, and knowledge of expert systems, computer graphics and human factors. This work was performed as part of the Intelligent Graphic Interface (IGI) project, a multi-year, multi-organisation research project sponsored by PRECARN Associates, with funding provided by the Canadian Federal and British Columbia Provincial governments and PRECARN member companies.