A context-sensitive user interface offers the user options based on the state of the active program.[1] Context sensitivity is ubiquitous in current graphical user interfaces, often in context menus.
A user-interface may also provide context sensitive feedback, such as changing the appearance of the mouse pointer or cursor, changing the menu color, or with auditory or tactile feedback.
The primary reason for introducing context sensitivity is to simplify the user interface.
Advantages include:
Reduced number of commands required to be known to the user for a given level of productivity.
Reduced number of clicks or keystrokes required to carry out a given operation.
Allows consistent behaviour to be pre-programmed or altered by the user.
Reduces the number of options needed on screen at one time.
Disadvantages
Context sensitive actions may be perceived as dumbing down of the user interface - leaving the operator at a loss as to what to do when the computer decides to perform an unwanted action. Additionally non-automatic procedures may be hidden or obscured by the context sensitive interface causing an increase in user workload for operations the designers did not foresee.
A poor implementation can be more annoying than helpful – a classic example of this is Office Assistant.
Implementation
At the simplest level each possible action is reduced to a single most likely action – the action performed is based on a single variable (such as file extension). In more complicated implementations multiple factors can be assessed such as the user's previous actions, the size of the file, the programs in current use, metadata[2] etc.
The method is not only limited to the response to imperative button presses and mouse clicks - pop-up menus can be pruned and/or altered, or a web search can focus results based on previous searches.
At higher levels of implementation context sensitive actions require either larger amounts of meta-data, extensive case analysis based programming, or other artificial intelligence algorithms.
In computer and video games
Context sensitivity is important in video games – especially those controlled by a gamepad, joystick or computer mouse in which the number of buttons available is limited. It is primarily applied when the player is in a certain place and is used to interact with a person or object. For example, if the player is standing next to a non-player character, an option may come up allowing the player to talk with him/her.
Implementations range from the embryonic 'Quick Time Event' to context sensitive sword combat in which the attack used depends on the position and orientation of both the player and opponent, as well as the virtual surroundings. A similar range of use is found in the 'action button' which, depending upon the in-game position of the player's character, may cause it to pick something up, open a door, grab a rope, punch a monster or opponent, or smash an object.[3]
The response does not have to be player activated - an on-screen device may only be shown in certain circumstances, e.g. 'targeting' cross hairs in a flight combat game may indicate the player should fire. An alternative implementation is to monitor the input from the player (e.g. level of button pressing activity) and use that to control the pace of the game in an attempt to maximize enjoyment or to control the excitement or ambience.[4]
The method has become increasingly important as more complex games are designed for machines with few buttons (keyboard-less consoles). Bennet Ring commented (in 2006) that "Context-sensitive is the new lens flare".[5]
Context sensitive help is a common implementation of context sensitivity, a single help button is actioned and the help page or menu will open a specific page or related topic.[6]
Dix, A.; Catarci, T.; Habegger, B.; Ioannidis, Y.; Kamaruddin, A.; Katifori, A.; Lepouras, G.; Poggi, A.; Ramduny-Ellis, D. (2006). "Intelligent context-sensitive interactions on desktop and the web". Proceedings of the international workshop in conjunction with AVI 2006 on Context in advanced interfaces. Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 23–27. CiteSeerX10.1.1.669.9804. doi:10.1145/1145706.1145710. ISBN978-1-4503-7814-7. S2CID 2478733.
Glinert, Eitan M. (2008). "4.2 Next Generation User Interfaces:context sensitivity". The Human Controller: Usability and Accessibility in Video Game Interfaces (M. Eng.). Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. hdl:1721.1/46106.
William Abner (2007-07-27). "Assassin's Creed E3 Preview". gameshark.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
"context sensitive". webopedia. September 1996. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
Bennet Ring (2006-11-12). "Gears of War review - Now this is what next-gen gaming is all about". Yahoo!.
"Help". webopedia. September 1996. Retrieved 2004-09-20.
August 24, 2023
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A context sensitive user interface offers the user options based on the state of the active program 1 Context sensitivity is ubiquitous in current graphical user interfaces often in context menus A user interface may also provide context sensitive feedback such as changing the appearance of the mouse pointer or cursor changing the menu color or with auditory or tactile feedback Contents 1 Reasoning and advantages of context sensitivity 1 1 Disadvantages 2 Implementation 2 1 In computer and video games 2 2 Context sensitive help 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 SourcesReasoning and advantages of context sensitivity EditThe primary reason for introducing context sensitivity is to simplify the user interface Advantages include Reduced number of commands required to be known to the user for a given level of productivity Reduced number of clicks or keystrokes required to carry out a given operation Allows consistent behaviour to be pre programmed or altered by the user Reduces the number of options needed on screen at one time Disadvantages Edit Context sensitive actions may be perceived as dumbing down of the user interface leaving the operator at a loss as to what to do when the computer decides to perform an unwanted action Additionally non automatic procedures may be hidden or obscured by the context sensitive interface causing an increase in user workload for operations the designers did not foresee A poor implementation can be more annoying than helpful a classic example of this is Office Assistant Implementation EditAt the simplest level each possible action is reduced to a single most likely action the action performed is based on a single variable such as file extension In more complicated implementations multiple factors can be assessed such as the user s previous actions the size of the file the programs in current use metadata 2 etc The method is not only limited to the response to imperative button presses and mouse clicks pop up menus can be pruned and or altered or a web search can focus results based on previous searches At higher levels of implementation context sensitive actions require either larger amounts of meta data extensive case analysis based programming or other artificial intelligence algorithms In computer and video games Edit Context sensitivity is important in video games especially those controlled by a gamepad joystick or computer mouse in which the number of buttons available is limited It is primarily applied when the player is in a certain place and is used to interact with a person or object For example if the player is standing next to a non player character an option may come up allowing the player to talk with him her Implementations range from the embryonic Quick Time Event to context sensitive sword combat in which the attack used depends on the position and orientation of both the player and opponent as well as the virtual surroundings A similar range of use is found in the action button which depending upon the in game position of the player s character may cause it to pick something up open a door grab a rope punch a monster or opponent or smash an object 3 The response does not have to be player activated an on screen device may only be shown in certain circumstances e g targeting cross hairs in a flight combat game may indicate the player should fire An alternative implementation is to monitor the input from the player e g level of button pressing activity and use that to control the pace of the game in an attempt to maximize enjoyment or to control the excitement or ambience 4 The method has become increasingly important as more complex games are designed for machines with few buttons keyboard less consoles Bennet Ring commented in 2006 that Context sensitive is the new lens flare 5 Context sensitive help Edit Main article Context sensitive help Context sensitive help is a common implementation of context sensitivity a single help button is actioned and the help page or menu will open a specific page or related topic 6 See also EditContext awareness Autocomplete Autofill Autotype Combo box DWIM Do What I Mean Principle of least astonishment PLA POLA Quick time event QTE References EditCitations Edit Webopedia context sensitive Dix et al 2006 Assassin s Creed E3 Preview Archived from the original on 2007 08 03 Retrieved 2008 07 29 Glinert 2008 Gears of War review Now this is what next gen gaming is all about Webopedia Help Sources Edit Dix A Catarci T Habegger B Ioannidis Y Kamaruddin A Katifori A Lepouras G Poggi A Ramduny Ellis D 2006 Intelligent context sensitive interactions on desktop and the web Proceedings of the international workshop in conjunction with AVI 2006 on Context in advanced interfaces Association for Computing Machinery pp 23 27 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 669 9804 doi 10 1145 1145706 1145710 ISBN 978 1 4503 7814 7 S2CID 2478733 Glinert Eitan M 2008 4 2 Next Generation User Interfaces context sensitivity The Human Controller Usability and Accessibility in Video Game Interfaces M Eng Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology hdl 1721 1 46106 William Abner 2007 07 27 Assassin s Creed E3 Preview gameshark com Archived from the original on 2007 08 03 Retrieved 2008 07 29 context sensitive webopedia September 1996 Retrieved 2017 12 06 Bennet Ring 2006 11 12 Gears of War review Now this is what next gen gaming is all about Yahoo Help webopedia September 1996 Retrieved 2004 09 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Context sensitive user interface amp oldid 1106371411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
