A Framework for Flexible and Executable Usability Patterns Standards

Software patterns have been used as a software design tool to reuse proven solutions to recurring problems. But the complex interconnections and the number of pattern collections is becoming a barrier for identifying relevant patterns and pattern combinations for a given design context. More formal representations of patterns are needed that support machine processing in addition to the traditional text- based presentation of software patterns. In this paper, usability patterns are used to demonstrate a framework and techniques to support the development of pattern forms that facilitate cross-collection links over the World-Wide Web. This is an essential first step that will enable moving from loosely coupled patterns to closely coupled pattern languages. Semantic Web technologies are used both to support distributed and heterogeneous data integration and to provide a computational basis for building intelligent tools that utilize patterns to support software development activities.