Athena: An User-Centered Adaptive Interface

The emergence of adaptive interfaces [Benyon 1993, Benyon & Murray 1988] provides a satisfactory framework for taking into account users heterogeneity. In adapting to the user’s characteristics, these interfaces could, in principle, minimize training and support costs, as well as improve user’s satisfaction and productiveness. However, so far, there is no general agreement on adaptive interface models. There is neither a widely accepted enumeration of relevant types of adaptations the interface should be able to undertake (not only cosmetic ones), nor a definite study on the impact of these adaptations in users’ learning and performance.