A framework to leverage domain expertise to support novice users in the visual exploration of Home Area Networks

Advances in modern technologies have afforded end-users increased convenience in performing everyday activities. However, even seemingly trivial issues can cause great annoyance for the ordinary user who lacks domain expertise of the often complex systems that underpin these advances. A key challenge lies in assisting non-expert users to express their requirements of an obscure and complex system. This research proposes a semantic approach by using domain expert knowledge to enable real time semantic up-lift in supporting novice end-users to understand and control the complex dynamic systems they must manage. This presents a significant opportunity to increase user satisfaction and reduce associated support costs. This semantic approach has been designed and implemented in an early prototype of our Home Area Network Monitoring System (HANMS). This paper presents a detailed description of the current state of the research, an initial evaluation, and future work.