J.A. Jacko (Ed.): Human-Computer Interaction, Part I, HCII 2011, LNCS 6761, pp. 204–213, 2011. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 HCI Patterns as a Means to Transform Interactive User Interfaces to Diverse Contexts of Use Jürgen Engel 1 , Christian Märtin 1 , and Peter Forbrig 2 1 Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Computer Science, Friedberger Strasse 2a, 86161 Augsburg, Germany 2 University of Rostock, Institute of Computer Science, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 21, 18059 Rostock, Germany {Juergen.Engel,Christian.Maertin}@hs-augsburg.de, {Peter.Forbrig}@uni-rostock.de Abstract. This paper introduces a pattern-based method for transformation of user interfaces of interactive applications to diverse contexts of use. The method is demonstrated with the help of various examples taken from existing software solutions. The related pattern transformation rules are derived from the samples and in turn expressed in a pattern format, the so-called transformation patterns. Keywords: HCI patterns, user interface, pattern-based context transformation, transformation patterns, interactive systems, PLML. 1 Introduction In the past electronic appliances and devices, e.g. telecommunication devices, usually were comprised of proprietary hardware. Nowadays such products are increasingly implemented on a software basis, e.g. as embedded applications, web clients or Apps. These types of interactive software systems steadily become more important. As in most application domains users can choose from a vast variety of competing products usability and user interface aspects become substantial. But user interface development in particular absorbs a significant portion of the total development effort [15]. Emerging platforms, such as smart phones, other mobile devices, and new web technologies are the driving forces for even higher UI complexity. Due to these facts we focus our research on options for automation in the UI development process. Here a major aspect is pattern- and model-based UI modeling and UI code generation. Within this paper we would like to share the findings of our ongoing work on transforming user interfaces to diverse contexts of use. 2 Related Work Patterns and pattern languages have a growing impact on the disciplines of HCI and web engineering. Christopher Alexander introduced patterns for solving problems in architecture and urban planning. He defined a pattern as a three-part rule which expresses a relation between a certain context, a problem, and a solution [1]. In the