Intelligent Document User Interface Design Using MVC and UIML

Abstract

We describe a method for generating dynamic user interfaces for document processing systems by using MVC as a guide and UIML as the method to describe the model, view, and controller. Our approach implements the notion of intelligent documents, that is, documents whose processing is richer than processing applied to paper documents. Using our approach, the interface may include new operations not included in the normal document processing system. Moreover, the functions used to implement those operations may be any service available on the web. Finally, because we use UIML, the interface and implementation of services is easily changeable. Thus we achieve the goal of any document originated from anywhere in the world (globalization) being displayed in a usable way (usability) in any environment in a dynamic and platform independent way.