Paper Reading 24 – The Why UI: Using Goal Networks to Improve User Interfaces

The initial view of when the user enters their goal.

Comments
Patrick Frith
Steven Hennessy

Reference Information
The Why UI: Using Goal Networks to Improve User Interfaces
 - Dustin A. Smith and Henry Lieberman
 - IUI 2010, Hong Kong, China

Summary
This paper dealt with a program called ToDoGo.  The authors explained how users often have goals they want to accomplish and that software should be tailored to helps users meet these goals.  They explained an online system where users declare their goals, and then post updates as to whether or not they met their goals and how they met them.  They took this format and implanted it into the ToDoGo system.  In their demonstration for how it works, they streamlined the process a little more than recognizing trends from a website.

Suggested tasks pertaining to the goal.

In the ToDoGo system, the user specifies what their goal is and a few attributes pertaining to it.  Once it is added, the program recognizes from its database related steps required to meet this goal and notifies the user about them.  If the user selects these goals, the program will further guide them in completing these sub-goals leading up to the main goal.  The designers’ main goal was to demonstrate how this type of application approach can be helpful in improving the user experience as a whole.

ToDoGo gives directions to aid users in completing their goal.

Discussion
I think the authors brought up a great point.  When presented with a program, it can sometimes be a little complex and overwhelming at first.  There are manuals and tutorials to help with this, but sometimes you just want to complete a simple task without the need to familiarize yourself with the entire program.  If the user could type in a goal and have the program give instruction on how to complete their goal, this would be amazing.  I love this idea, but it seems fairly high level and abstract to actually implement.  The work presented in this paper, however, has me optimistic that this can become a reality someday.