Supporting the Problem-Solving Loop: Designing Highly Interactive Optimisation Systems

Efficient optimisation algorithms have become important tools for finding high-quality solutions to hard, real-world problems such as production scheduling, timetabling, or vehicle routing. These are typically “black boxes” that work on mathematical models of the problem solve. However, many difficult fully specify, and require a “human in loop” who collaborates with algorithm by refining model guiding search produce acceptable solutions. Recently, Problem-Solving Loop was introduced high-level interactive optimisation. Here, we present evaluate nine recommendations design visualisation supporting Loop. They range from choice visual representation constraints use solution gallery support exploration alternate We first examined applicability investigating how well they had been supported previous tools. then evaluated context routing time windows (VRPTW). To do so built sophisticated system solving VRPTW informed recommendations. Ten participants used this solve variety problems. report participant comments interaction patterns tool. showed tool regarded highly usable results generally usefulness underlying