Evaluation of HCI models to control a network system through a graphical user interface

Abstract: SAAB has a project under development for a network system with connected nodes, where the nodes are both information consumer and producer of different communication types. A node is an equipment or an object that are used by the army e.g. it can be a soldier, military hospital or an UAV. The nodes function as a part of a mission e.g. a mission can be Defend Gotland. The aim of this project is that the user will rank different missions from the one with the highest priority to the lowest. This will affect the network in a way that the communication between the nodes at the mission with the highest rank will be prioritised over the communication between the underlying missions. A user can via the GUI rank the missions, and then set the associated settings for them. Via the GUI the user should be able to work at three different levels. The first is to plan upcoming missions. The second one is in real time see if the system delivers the desired conditions. The last one is to simulate if the system can deliver the desired conditions. This thesis investigated various HCI models that could be used to create a GUI, to reduce the risk of a user configuring the system incorrectly. The study showed that there are no HCI models that take account for misconfigurations, and therefore a new model was created. The new model was used and evaluated by creating a prototype of a GUI for SAAB’s project and was tested on a potential user. The test showed that the new model reduced the risk of misconfigurations.