Context-sensitive human-machine interface of automation systems: Introduction of an adaptive concept and prototype

Automation Systems have become an inseparable part of daily life. Therefore, they must be usable to a wide range of users. Introduction of enabling technologies and modern infrastructures, such as smartphones or cloud-based systems, has changed the context of use; it has become more dynamic and includes different hardware and software platforms. The usability of a system is measured according to the adaptability of its user interface to the context of use. The dynamic changes of the context of use presses the necessity of a run-time solution. While in the domain of web applications and pure software systems such considerations exist since decades, they are new to the domain of automation systems. Therefore, we have elaborated a concept for adaptation of user interface to the context of use at run-time. In this paper, firstly, the context of use of the automation systems have been discussed. Based on that, a generic concept applicable to the domain of automation systems is provided. Finally, an intelligent ticket vending machine, developed to evaluate the proposed concept, is described.