Adaptive interfaces for human-computer interaction: a colorful spectrum of present and future options

Human-computer interfaces are investigated in view of their flexibility related to differing human properties/requirements and diverse application circumstances. It is shown that adaptive interfaces satisfy all the demands stemming from the requirement of matching the interface operation to specific and varying user and system characteristics. A brief description is given of what kinds of adaptation can be built into the interfaces allowing human-computer interaction in the related man-machine systems. Finally, some basic criteria of how to construct efficient, reliable and user-friendly adaptive interfaces, are investigated. After introducing complex computer-integrated man-machine systems and associated human-computer interaction, a general view of the human-computer interfacing problem is given, followed by sections on interface adaptivity/adaptability/adaptation, taxonomy of adaptive interfaces and interface realisations, construction of adaptive interfaces and some trends in constructing and applying such interfaces in complex computer-integrated man-machine systems.