On Lions, Impala, and Bigraphs: Modelling Interactions in Physical/Virtual Spaces

Benford, Steve; Calder, Muffy; Rodden, Tom; Sevegnani, Michele

Abstract

© 2016 ACM. While HCI has a long tradition of formally modelling task-based interactions with graphical user interfaces, there has been less progress in modelling emerging ubiquitous computing systems due in large part to their highly contextual nature and dependence on unreliable sensing systems. We present an exploration of modelling an example ubiquitous system, the Savannah game, using the mathematical formalism of bigraphs, which are based on a universal process algebra that encapsulates both dynamic and spatial behaviour of autonomous agents that interact and move among each other, or within each other.We establish a modelling approach based on four perspectives on ubiquitous systems - Computational, Physical, Human, and Technology - and explore how these interact with one another.We show how our model explains observed inconsistencies in user trials of Savannah, and then, how formal analysis reveals an incompleteness in design and guides extensions of the model and/or possible system re-design to resolve this.

Citation

Benford, S., Calder, M., Rodden, T., & Sevegnani, M. (2016). On Lions, Impala, and Bigraphs: Modelling Interactions in Physical/Virtual Spaces. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 23(2), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1145/2882784

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 7, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Deposit Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Journal: ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction
• Print ISSN: 1073-0516
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-7325
• Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2882784
• Keywords: Bigraphs, Formal modelling, Mixed reality systems, Human-centered computing, Human computer interaction (HCI); Human- centered computing, HCI design and evaluation methods; Theory of computation, Models of computation; Software and its engineering, Formal
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/788157
• Publisher URL: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2882784
• Contract Date: Dec 1, 2016