A Multi-Window Hypermedia Environment for the Delivery of Information to Architects,Engineers and Product Designers

A report is given of the Quality Package: a multi-window hypermedia system delivering information on Design Quality to architects, engineers, and product designers. An innovative information processing structure was devised including an object-oriented communication protocol, and a composite user interface individually tailored to individual needs.

The information content is described to identify the manner in which modes of interaction were reflected in the separation of content accessed by menu windows. The flow of information was maintained through the use of link commentaries selected according to tests of user performance. Further interactions were also possible through agree and disagree decisions aggregated in a performance statement in the package summary. The user could therefore use their own interactions to assess personal notions of design quality in comparison with statements from established experts personified in videodisc and compact audiodisc material.

Conclusions are drawn concerning the applicability of the further development of the multiwindow communication philosophy to create flexible modes of information delivery.